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.
Football Marketing
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.
Juventus launch new app for new season as it continues digital drive
By Paul Nicholson
August 19 – Italian giants Juventus, current Serie A champions and the country’s club leaders in the digital world, having taken another step forward with the launch of a new app for the new season that opens this weekend.
Botafogo build digital content as part of brand plan to return to top tier
By Samindra Kunti
August 17 – Brazilian club Botafogo have partnered with IO2 Technology for development sponsorship to boost engagement on its digital platforms.
Emirates unveils new deal with Arabian Gulf League, but Iranian tensions simmer
By Mark Baber
August 14 – Emirates announced Thursday that it has signed a three-year deal with the UAE’s domestic league – officially known as the ‘Arabian Gulf League’ – as its Official Partner and Airline, in a move which risks exacerbating tensions with Iran.
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.
Man Utd take video gamers to next level in Korea with Nexon
August 11 – Manchester United are exploiting the increasingly influential Asian commercial market by announcing a partnership with Korean-based online games developer and publisher, Nexon, bringing the club closer to the 15 million followers it has in the country.
NBC renews Premier League TV rights for US in 6-year deal
By Andrew Warshaw
August 11 – The pre-season march of English Premier League clubs through the US has paid off with American broadcaster NBC announcing it has struck a deal to show live Premier League games for the next six years, extending its current contract until 2022.
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.
Suning Corp takes La Liga deep in Chinese TV market
August 6 – The growing importance and wealth of the Chinese market has been underlined by a deal to broadcast Spanish matches in some 300 cities from this season.
Sky wins 3-year renewal for La Liga rights in UK
August 6 – The TV bidding war between Sky Sports and BT Sport has been ratcheted up a notch with the former announcing it has renewed live coverage of Spain’s La Liga for the next three seasons.
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.