Asia Sports Business Weekly | 20th June

Hello Industry Friends, here is the very latest news and insights from Asia.

📰 Headlines: Thailand moves closer to an F1 race, Saudi Super Cup set for Hong Kong, BIG3 and EASL form strategic partnership, Ye Yifei makes history at 24 Hours of Le Mans, Shanghai introduces new PE measures, and Wolves Esports lands major investment. 

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🗞️ Key Industry News

Thailand Pursues Five-Year Formula One Hosting Rights

Thailand’s cabinet has greenlit a proposal to bid for a five-year Formula One hosting agreement, targeting races in Bangkok from 2028 onward. The initiative, backed by an estimated budget of $1.23m, was confirmed by the country’s Tourism and Sports Minister, Sorawong Thienthong, who revealed that preliminary discussions have already commenced with Formula One Group and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau. Read more on Bangkok Post (English)

💡 Mailman Take: Thailand's hosting of MotoGP has demonstrated substantial socioeconomic value, with the 2025 event in Buriram generating approximately $140m in regional economic impact. This revenue, derived from international tourism, employment generation, and tax revenues, highlights motorsports' potential as a catalyst for regional development. The event has also elevated Thailand's global sporting profile while inspiring domestic athletes to pursue world-class competition. While the event has generated significant public enthusiasm and economic benefits, current political instability raises legitimate concerns about Thailand's ability to sustain such high-profile international events.

Saudi Super Cup 2025 to Take Place in Hong Kong

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has announced that the 2025 Saudi Super Cup will be held in Hong Kong. The event will take place at Hong Kong Stadium, which has a seating capacity of 40,000. The SAFF confirmed that its commercial partner, SMC Group, has agreed with Sum KM Sport to organise and host the matches. This marks the first time the competition will be staged outside Saudi Arabia, underscoring the federation's commitment to expanding the global reach of Saudi football. Read more on SportBusiness (English)

💡 Mailman Take: Hong Kong’s journey back to the global sports stage hasn’t been easy. Years of disruptions and uncertainty tested the city’s status as Asia’s events hub, but 2025 marks a turning point. The Saudi Super Cup’s debut in Hong Kong, alongside a packed summer of football friendlies and the successful launch of Kai Tak Stadium, proves the city isn’t just recovering, it’s rebuilding stronger.

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BIG3 and East Asia Super League Form Strategic Partnership in Asia

The BIG3, the premier professional 3-on-3 basketball league founded by Ice Cube, has entered into a landmark partnership with the East Asia Super League (EASL) to introduce its high-energy brand of basketball to the Asia-Pacific region. The collaboration aims to launch a series of elite 3x3 events across key Asian markets, with a targeted debut in 2026. Read more on SportBusiness (English)

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Ye Yifei Makes History at 24 Hours of Le Mans

Chinese racing star Ye Yifei secured a groundbreaking victory at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans, becoming the first driver from China to claim the overall win. Competing in the No. 83 Ferrari 499P, Ye delivered a masterful performance at the Circuit de la Sarthe to the top step of the podium. The triumph marks a significant milestone not only for Ye’s career but also for Chinese motorsport, reinforcing the nation’s growing influence in elite international racing. Read more on China Daily (English)

Trail of The Kings 2025 Set to Dazzle at Lake Toba

For the second consecutive year, the Trail of The Kings will return to the stunning Lake Toba region, following the successful launch of the collaboration between Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc and the local government. Building on the momentum of last year’s success, the event is expected to draw 5k runners from 25 countries. Read more on Liputan 6 (Bahasa)

💡 Mailman Take: This marks an important follow-up initiative by the Indonesian government in reinforcing its commitment to the sport tourism campaign. Rather than focusing solely on Java Island, the government is actively tapping into the vast potential across other regions and islands. The collaboration with UTMB through the Trail of The Kings event is a major milestone, demonstrating how international partnerships can elevate local destinations through sports. Beyond enhancing global exposure for Lake Toba, the event is also expected to generate a significant economic impact for the surrounding areas, driving both short-term turnover and long-term tourism growth.

WME Sports Signs Chinese Hockey Prospect Haoxi "Simon" Wang

WME Sports has secured a landmark signing by adding 17-year-old Chinese defenseman Haoxi "Simon" Wang to its hockey talent roster for marketing and commercial representation. Beijing-born Simon, a projected late first-round or second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, marks WME's first-ever Chinese ice hockey client. Read more on SBJ (English)

Shanghai Introduces Measures to Strengthen PE in Schools

Shanghai has unveiled a new policy framework designed to improve the quality of physical education (PE) in primary and secondary schools. The initiative addresses key challenges in PE delivery while establishing a sustainable model for long-term development. Key provisions include a mandate for schools to provide at least two hours of structured physical activity per day, primarily on campus, ensuring consistent exercise opportunities for students. Read more on China Daily (English)

TV Tokyo Secures WTT Broadcast Rights Through 2028

World Table Tennis (WTT), the commercial entity of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), has finalised a four-year media rights agreement with Japanese broadcaster TV Tokyo. The deal, extending through 2028, grants TV Tokyo exclusive terrestrial and satellite broadcasting rights for all WTT Series events in Japan. Read more on SportBusiness (English)

PPTV Rolls Over Bundesliga Rights in Thailand

Free-to-air broadcaster PPTV has renewed its rights to show the Bundesliga in Thailand during the 2025-26 season. The agreement extends a long-running partnership between Bundesliga International, the international rights selling arm of the German Football League (DFL), and PPTV that grants the broadcaster exclusivity in the Thai market. Read more on SportBusiness (English)

Hisense Leveraging Major Sport for Global Reach

The Chinese home appliance manufacturer is intensifying efforts to expand its global presence by sponsoring world-class sports events and bolstering technological advancements to target the overseas high-end market. Being the inaugural official partner of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, the company is providing screen support for video assistant referees in the stadiums and VAR rooms to help on-field referees make decisions. Read more on China Daily (English)

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🎮 Esports

Wolves Esports Lands Major Chinese Investment to Fuel Global Growth

Chongqing Green Development Group, a state-owned enterprise, has made a multi-million-dollar strategic investment in Wolves Esports - the competitive gaming division of Wolverhampton Wanderers. The deal accelerates Wolves’ push into China’s booming esports market while strengthening its infrastructure and digital ecosystem. Backed by parent company Fosun Sports, Wolves Esports has emerged as a key player in bridging Western esports expertise with China’s rapidly growing industry. Read more on Esports Advocate (English)

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