Emirates has signed its third significant football sponsorship in the space of a month after agreeing a deal with the New York Cosmos ahead of the iconic American club’s return to action in August.
The Dubai-based airline will become a founding partner of the Cosmos, along with its front of shirt sponsor, with the agreement coming shortly after it sealed major deals with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
Under the terms of the multi-year contract, Emirates will benefit from significant branding at Cosmos matches in and around Hofstra University’s Shuart Stadium, as well as online through the club’s social and digital media channels.
Additionally, Emirates becomes the presenting sponsor of Cosmos Copa, a soccer tournament played in New York City between local, community-based ‘national teams.’
Nabil Sultan, Emirates divisional senior vice-president of revenue optimisation and distribution, said: “As with our sponsorship of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Emirates views our partnership with the Cosmos as a way to thank the people of New York for making Emirates one of the world’s fastest growing airlines. Along with their fans all across the region, we look forward to watching the Cosmos reclaim their title as New York’s legendary soccer team.” Cosmos chairman Seamus O'Brien (pictured) also spoke at the press conference to confirm the deal.
The Cosmos will return to the field for the first time in nearly three decades on August 3 after it was announced in July 2012 that the team would join the North American Soccer League (NASL). The Cosmos began play in 1971, spending 14 seasons in the previous incarnation of the NASL, winning five Soccer Bowl trophies and bringing some of the biggest names in world football history to North America.