VW stays parked with their German Cup sponsorship through to 2022
March 22 – Scandal-hit Volkswagen has agreed to extend its sponsorship of the German national cup for six years until 2022.
Football Marketing
Messi rings up more sponsorship cash with Huawei deal
March 21 – While Barcelona teammate Neymar is contemplating his €45.9 million fine for tax evasion in Brazil, Lionel Messi – no stranger to multiple tax fraud allegations himself – was signing on another sponsorship deal, this time with Chinese telecoms firm Huawei.
Don’t do it…Fans scorn Nike’s England and US national team kit designs
By Mark Baber
March 18 – Nike’s kit launches for the England and US national teams were met with scorn from fans and media on Thursday, whilst panic-stricken executives cancelled the launch of the Brazil shirt in Rio due to unwarranted concerns about demonstrations.
Pogboom! Paul Pogba secures €40m deal with Adidas
By Mark Baber
March 17 – Adidas finally confirmed on Wednesday morning that Paul Pogba has agreed what is believed to be a 10-year, €40 million deal with the company.
In Britain football is more important than sex, clubs more exciting than jobs
By Paul Nicholson
March 16 – A survey by Champions League sponsor Nissan has found that football gets Britons (56% of them) more excited than sex; and that they spend more time watching football than participating in sex.
Virtually Live and STATS test first VR match on Scottish League Cup final
March 16 – Virtually Live teamed up with STATS LLC to test their virtual reality technology for the first time on a European football match in Europe covering the Scottish League Cup final on March 13 at Hampden Park – Ross County beat Hibernian 2-1.
Inter Milan drive through new five-year shirt deal with Pirelli
March 15 – The on-off rumours that Pirelli were to end their 20-year sponsorship of Inter Milan have been ended with the club officially announcing that they had agreed a new five-year deal.
Man Utd sign Gulf Oil as global partner taking sponsor squad to 24
By Matt Scott
March 14 – Manchester United signed their latest global commercial partner in what has now become a 24-firm squad with the arrival on the scene of the Official Global Lubricant Oil and Fuel Retail Partner, Gulf Oil, on Monday.
DraftKings expands offering to UK’s fantasy footballers with Europa League games
By Paul Nicholson
March 11 – Daily Fantasy Sports gaming giant DraftKings boosted its UK offering yesterday with the introduction of the Europa League and Liga MX to players.
MP & Silva and Simplestream combine to boost video sales options
By Paul Nicholson
March 10 – A sign that the broadcast sales of sports rights is shifting away from traditional platform sales to embrace the digital distribution options more fully can be seen from the partnership just announced by MP & Silva with Simplestream.
Perfect marriage. Nike and Barcelona close in on €100m per year deal
By Mark Baber
March 4 – US sportswear giant Nike is reportedly prepared to offer Barcelona €85 million a year, plus bonuses bringing the total up to €100 million to extend the current sponsorship contract which expires in 2018.
Fox to mic-up coaches during MLS live broadcasts
By Ben Nicholson
March 4 – En route to becoming a leading world soccer league, the MLS is innovating by placing microphones on coaches during nationally televised TV games so that viewers can hear the words coming from the horse’s mouth.
IMG to take Chinese Super League to the world
By Paul Nicholson
March 3 – While international interest in China has generally been inward looking with big name players from Europe making big money transfers to Chinese clubs, the Chinese Super League (CSL) itself is also looking outward and has appointed IMG as the exclusive sales agent for its global TV rights outside of China.
Coke, Sprint and State Farm join Nike for Copa America Centenario in the US
By Samindra Kunti
March 3 – This summer’s centennial Copa America tournament in the US, the first time CONMEBOL has held the tournament outside South America and which will feature six teams from CONCACAF, has signed three high profile sponsor partners in Coca-Cola, Sprint and State Farm.
Man Utd turn on the power with new Yanmar deal
March 3 – It appear Manchester United fans like motor vehicles and the club likes motor manufacturers as global sponsors. Chevrolet are the club’s shirt sponsor, and sit alongside Japanese industrial Yanmar who have extended their deal to become the club’s first Agricultural Vehicles Partner.