Chinese firm invests in Melbourne sports team partnerships

Chinese investment firm Greenwood Capital has entered into partnerships with Australian A-League football club Melbourne Victory and AFL Aussie rules football team Melbourne FC.

Greenwood Capital, which holds an Australian base in Burwood, Melbourne, has agreed a shirt sponsorship deal with Victory. The company’s logo will appear on the front of the club’s playing jerseys during its 2016 Asian Champions League campaign.

The length of Greenwood Capital’s agreement with Melbourne FC, which names the company a commercial partner of the club, was not disclosed.

Melbourne FC’s chief executive Peter Jackson said the partnership with Greenwood Capital would “not only raise the awareness but increase the interest of AFL and the Melbourne Football Club among Melbourne’s Chinese communities so that we can continue to represent all elements of this great city.”

Greenwood is the second Chinese partner of Melbourne FC following the signing of China Southern Airlines in 2014 as the first Chinese sponsor in the AFL.