Real Madrid hits €70m with Emirates deal as revenue breaks records
September 22- Real Madrid have renewed their shirt sponsorship deal with Dubai airline Emirates in a record value deal taking them through to the end of the 2020/21 season.
Football Marketing
Saints build their Asian profile adding Brickhill as forex partner
September 22 – Premier League Southampton have announced Brickhill Capital as the club’s official Asian Trading Partner in a two-year deal.
Coke signs FIFA 18 virtual athlete Alex Hunter as brand ambassador
By Paul Nicholson
September 21 – FIFA sponsor Coca-Cola has teamed up with FIFA 18 video gamemaker EA Sports to sign Alex Hunter as a brand ambassador in advance of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Don’t bother trying to work out who Hunter plays for, he only exists as a virtual athlete in the FIFA 18 game.
LA Galaxy support H20 Claro campaign to its core Hispanic communities
September 20 – MLS side LA Galaxy have linked with the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) to promote the charity’s ‘H20 Claro’ campaign to Hispanic communities in Los Angeles.
Montagliani takes lead at FIFA Ticketing for Russia 2018 World Cup
By Paul Nicholson
September 19 – It is one of the most important positions in FIFA if done correctly, and in the past one of the most corrupted. FIFA has appointed CONCACAF president and FIFA vice president, Victor Montagliani as chairman of FIFA Ticketing AG, the FIFA subsidiary that controls and administers the global sale of tickets for the World Cup.
App(y) days – transfer window opens big opportunities for fan engagement
September 19 – Stats from app creator RightNow Digital indicate that the transfer window offers clubs a big opportunity to engage with their fans. In 2017 there was a 300% increase in fan app activity.
An Angry Bird on both arms, Everton announce video game as first sleeve sponsor
September 19 – Everton’s announcement of video game Angry Birds as its first sleeve sponsor turned into a social media gift Monday as the club’s returned child progidy Wayne Rooney was convicted of drunk driving. Twitter was buzzing with comment on the irony.
beIN joins with rightsholders in bid to shut down Saudi pirate channel beoutQ
By Paul Nicholson
September 18 – Qatar-based sports broadcaster beIN Sport which holds the TV rights to multiple sports events across 43 countries where it is distributed has joined with 10 of its rightsholders to protest against Saudi Arabian focused web channel beoutQ, which it says is broadcasting beIN’s propriety content in Saudi Arabia without permission.
Atlético Madrid to open new Wanda Metropolitano stadium with 12 hour party and a match
September 15 – Atlético Madrid open their new 67,703-capacity Estadio Wanda Metropolitano stadium tomorrow with a 12 hour celebration that will include their first home match of the season against Malaga.
New Balance expand in Russia with FC Rubin kit deal
September 14 – New Balance has expanded into Russia with the its first kit deal with a Russian Super League club FC Rubin.
EFL ties up £600m Sky deal and opens up live streaming market in UK
By Paul Nicholson
September 13 – Sky and the English Football League (EFL) have agreed a five-year £600 million broadcasting deal starting with the 2019/20 season.
Real Madrid enter theme park business in China with Lai Sun Group
September 13 – Real Madrid have partnered with Lai Sun Group to create a presence at a Chinese theme park in a cultural development in Hengqin, China.
Nissan drives hard for Asia and innovation with Champions League renewal
By Paul Nicholson
September 11 – With the first round of Champions League fixtures kicking off this week, Japan’s motor company Nissan has confirmed a three-year extension to its global sponsorship, taking it through to the end of the 2020/21 season.
CSL’s Beijing Guoan widens commercial base under Sinobo majority ownership
September 11 – Chinese sponsorship of its Super League clubs is showing signs of growth beyond its traditional single benefactor status, where the main sponsor is generally the business owning the club and often has the company name branded into the club’s identity.
MRF scores hat-trick of Newcastle, West Ham and West Brom sleeve sponsorships
September 9 – Indian tyre brand MRF has signed a hat-trick of sleeve sponsorships in the Premier League signing Newcastle United, West Ham United, and West Bromwich Albion in one-season deals taking them through to May 2018.