Hublot decides timing is right for entry into UEFA club competitions
August 20 – UEFA has announced Hublot as its official licensed watch partner for the Champions League and Europa League in a three-season deal from 2015 to 2018.
Sponsorship
Man Utd rolls dice again and comes up with Donaco
August 20 – English Premier League giants Manchester United are on a good run in the betting and gaming business, announcing Donaco as the club’s first Official Casino Resort Partner in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and South Korea.
PSG joins Barcelona and Juventus in Tecate’s Mexican portfolio
By Paul Nicholson
August 12 – Mexican beer brand Tecate has added a third regional sponsorship of one of Europe’s top club, this week signing Paris Saint-Germain who join Barcelona and Juventus as having Tecate as the official regional beer.
Online betting platforms Betfair and Bet365 punt on Arsenal and WBA
By Mark Baber
August 11 – Just days into the new season, Premier League clubs Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion have signed new betting partnerships with Betfair and Bet365 respectively.
1.FC Kaiserslautern inks one-year €1.4m shirt deal with Maxda
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
August 7 – German second tier Bundesliga club 1.FC Kaiserslautern has signed a new sponsorship contract with financial services firm Maxda Darlehensvermittlungs GmbH. The deal, which will see the firm become the club’s main sponsor for a one-year period, is estimated to be worth a total of €1.4 million.
Man City tread new path with Nexen Tire in global deal
August 7 – Manchester City FC have signed Nexen Tire, the leading South Korean tyre and tubing brand, as the Club’s Official Tyre Partner. The club is the latest to announce a tyre manufacturer as a major sponsor – Yokohama recently took over as Chelsea’s shirt sponsor in an estimated £200 million five year deal.
Levski sign Vivacom, CSKA resigned to (almost) apologising for fans
By Alexander Krassimirov
August 6 – While one of Bulgaria’s leading clubs from Sofia, CSKA, is busy apologising for the behaviour of its fans at the weekend, the other, Levski Sofia, is busy signing a new major club sponsor for the coming season.
Man Utd snag Marathonbet for the long run; bwin’s bets are off
By Paul Nicholson
August 6 – Yet another betting company club sponsorship deal has been announced in the English Premier League. This time it is the turn of Manchester United who have unveiled a multi-year deal with Marathonbet who will become the Club’s Official Global Betting Partner, excluding China and the US.
Betting firms take punt on Norwich and West Brom sponsorships
By Mark Baber
August 4 – With the new Premier League season kicking off this weekend, Norwich City have announced a new sponsorship deal with bookmaker Coral whilst West Bromwich Albion have signed a one year betting partnership with NetBet.
Down but not out. CSKA sign kit deal with Lotto
By Alexander Krassimirov
July 31 – They may have been dropped to the amateur leagues and non-professional status, but Bulgaria’s CSKA Sofia is still pulling in commercial interest and has signed a contract with Italian sportswear company Lotto. The appareil brand will replace another Italian company, Legea.
AFC Bournemouth expands Vitality deal at renamed Dean Court
By Mark Baber
July 30 – Premier League newcomers AFC Bournemouth have agreed a stadium naming rights deal with health care provider Vitality, part of South Africa-based Discovery Limited. The 11,700-capacity Dean Court, the smallest ground ever in the Premier League, will be called the Vitality Stadium.
BT Sport gears up for season launch with Gumtree sponsorship
July 29 – After a summer of international tours and ad hoc tournaments, the Premier League kicks off August 8 and for those watching on TV it will be amid a barrage of bookmakers offering special odds, sign-up bonuses and exclusive bets.
Ukrainian league signs Pari-Match as first title sponsor in 2-year deal
By Alexander Krassimirov
July 27 – Betting company Pari-Match has become the main sponsor of the Ukrainian league championship in a two-year deal which will see the competition renamed as the Pari-Match League. The deal is worth 43 million Ukrainian hryvnia (€1.8 million).
OGC Nice are latest French club to deal in poker site Winamax
By Samindra Kunti
July 27 – French Ligue 1 side OGC Nice have signed a sponsorship deal with online poker company Winamax. In a new one-year deal, running for the duration of the 2015/16 season, Winamax branding will appear on the front of Nice’s playing shorts. Winamax’s logo will feature for the first time during a friendly against Napoli on August 2.
Lyon and Lille sign McDonald’s and Partouche sponsor deals
By Samindra Kunti
July 23 – French clubs Olympique Lyon and Lille OSC are gearing up for the 2015/16 Ligue 1 season with new commercial deals. Lyon have teamed up with McDonald’s, while Lille have extended a deal with Groupe Partouche.