THE NEXTGEN SERIES, a mould-breaking competition featuring tomorrow’s football superstars playing for Europe’s major clubs, has unveiled its partnership rights portfolio on the back of a highly successful inaugural season.
The competition, which in its second season has added the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain to its founding clubs including Barcelona, Celtic, Liverpool, Manchester City, Olympique Marseille and Sporting Lisbon, is a showcase for the world’s leading young footballers as they take the step from the youth team to the first team squad.
The NextGen Series is beginning talks with brands over partnerships in up to six exclusive categories. The deals will include perimeter advertising and significant brand exposure amongst a range of other inventory across the NextGen Series from the group phase through to the final.
Justin Andrews, co-founder of the NextGen Series believes the partnerships deliver a unique opportunity for brands to create a powerful communications platform around their association with some of the best known teams in world football and players who will grace the club and international game for years to come.
“NextGen is a showcase for all that is best in the world’s game,” he said. “The technical standard is excellent and the clubs are among the strongest brands in global sport. NextGen is about aspiration and the celebration and development of young talent. There is none of the cynicism which surrounds aspects of the game at senior level.
“It provides a terrific, entry-level opportunity for a brand to associate itself with some of the leading clubs in the world."
The inaugural NextGen Series generated enormous global press coverage, in Europe in particular, and television coverage of the semi-finals and final – which saw the trophy won by Inter Milan in a thrilling final against Ajax Amsterdam – was broadcast in 299 million homes in 172 territories around the world.
By Kevin Roberts
Follow Kevin on Twitter: @krobsportbiz