Sports
Bundesliga signs sponsorship deal for Soccerex ‘09
MUMBAI: Germany’s top division has joined the growing list of event sponsors for global football’s leading business convention taking place in Johannesburg later this year.
The Bundesliga and its commercial arm, DFL Sports Enterprises, will also feature within the Soccerex 09 conference programme.
The sponsorship package includes a networking reception for Soccerex’s international delegates on the first day of the convention and branding of the event delegate bags.
The Soccerex convention has always received considerable support from the German market and this year’s conference programme will feature Tom Bender (Member of the Executive Board, DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga), Dr. Robert Niemen (CEO, DFL Sports Enterprises) and Jörg Daubitzer (Chief Operating Officer, DFL Sports Enterprises).
The conference takes place from 30 November-2 December in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Sports
After Virat Kohli’s exit, One8 Commune Bengaluru shuts down
Outlet near Chinnaswamy closes amid rent row, compliance issues mount
BENGALURU: The One8 Commune outlet near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has shut down following a court order, bringing a turbulent chapter for the high-profile dining destination to a close.
The immediate trigger was a legal dispute over unpaid dues. The outlet, operated by Trio Hills Hospitality, had reportedly defaulted on rent payments for nearly six months. Including maintenance charges and revenue share commitments, the outstanding amount is said to have crossed Rs 2 crore. A Bengaluru civil court subsequently directed the closure of the premises until all financial obligations are cleared.
The shutdown comes months after Virat Kohli, whose brand name lent the outlet its identity, had already distanced himself from the Bengaluru franchise. According to reports, concerns around repeated compliance-related issues prompted his team to withdraw the association. The removal of the One8 branding is believed to have impacted footfall, further straining the business.
The outlet had also faced regulatory scrutiny over the years. In 2024, authorities booked the establishment for operating beyond the 1:00 am curfew. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike had issued notices over missing fire safety clearances, while an FIR was filed for violating tobacco regulations by not providing a designated smoking zone under applicable laws.
In response to the closure, the brand maintained that the issue stemmed from building-level compliance responsibilities linked to the property owner rather than operational lapses on its part. It also denied that financial default was the primary reason, reiterating that customer safety remained a priority.
For now, the shutters remain down. While a reopening is theoretically possible if disputes are resolved, the absence of Kohli’s brand association makes a return under the One8 banner increasingly unlikely.
