Football
Features
Liverpool takes a chance on Nike in search of sales growth
Dan Haddad, head of commercial strategy at Octagon UK, looks at the potential upside for Liverpool in switching kit supplier rights from New Balance to Nike.
The Match Against Bullying – Swedbank & the Swedish Football Association
‘The Match Against Bullying’ was a cause-led initiative by the Swedish FA and national stadium sponsor Swedbank, working in tandem with the Friends charity.
Share the Drama, Share the Trophy – Heineken & Uefa
Heineken’s 2017-18 Champions League activation used immersive and experiential content to inspire influencers, fans and media to engage with the drama of the competition.
Patchwork of Dreams – Hummel & the Danish Football Association
Hummel’s pre-2018 Fifa World Cup kit launch with the Danish Football Association (DBU) put the players in shirts belonging to fans.
Europa League Trophy Tour – Kia & Uefa
Between January and July 2019, Kia activated its Uefa Europa League rights with a cause-led initiative that collected unwanted football boots from European fans and donated them to refugees in Jordan.
Manchester United to promote Malta in new sponsorship deal
Manchester United has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with the Government of Malta and the Malta Tourism Authority that will promote the island nation to the English Premier League club’s global f…
Deliveroo adds PSG to sponsorship portfolio
Food delivery company Deliveroo has entered into a partnership with French Ligue 1 football club Paris Saint-Germain
Real Sociedad reveal new stadium name, shirt sponsorship imminent
La Liga’s Real Sociedad will open its newly renovated, 40,000-capacity stadium – under the new Reale Arena moniker – on Saturday, while the club is close to striking a new shirt sponsorship deal.
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Mainz, Augsburg secure sponsor extensions
Mainz 05 has extended partnerships with financial services firm Sparkasse Mainz and textile management company Mewa, while fellow German Bundesliga football club FC Augsburg has renewed agreements with…
#ChampionsSofa – Sony & Uefa
Sony boosted the profile of its Xperia smartphones via its 2017-18 Uefa Champions League sponsorship that featured a Gogglebox-style activation called #ChampionsSofa.
HSBC takes prominent place in Spurs second tier with CSR role
Global bank HSBC signed a five-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur that prioritises rights linked to the stadium-led regeneration of the local area.
The Hacking Jersey – Cristal & the Peruvian Football Federation
Around Peru’s World Cup 2018 away play-off match against New Zealand, national-team sponsor Cristal ‘hacked’ the opposition team’s shirt so the stadium in Wellington appeared full of away support.
The Dacia Family Project – Dacia & Udinese
In 2015-16’s Dacia Family Project, Udinese and the car brand set out to encourage long-term attendance and loyalty by urging supporters to create a new generation of Udinese fans – literally.
Remington reaches out to Asia with multi-year United deal
US personal care brand Remington signed a multi-year global partnership with Manchester United after a two-year selection process.
Goals Beyond the Game – Rakuten & FC Barcelona
The 2018 ‘Goals Beyond the Game’ campaign showcased Rakuten and Barcelona’s shared support for the United Nation’s Social Development Goals.
#Mauerfall/Fall of the Wall – Deutsche Bahn & Hertha BSC
Hertha Berlin and sponsor Deutsche Bahn marked the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with a limited-edition shirt and an advertising campaign with the tagline ‘We Do Not Accept Walls’.
#BluesChallenge – Blackwell Global & Everton
Blackwell Global leveraged its assets as Everton’s first Official Brokerage Partner through a player-fronted campaign that engaged traders through a contest incentivized via club-linked prizes.
Team China’ brand sets high partnership price, targets $400m in quadrennial revenue
China’s General Administration of Sport has announced 'Team China' as the collective brand name for its national sports teams.
AR Giant Soccer Player Stunt – Orange & LaLiga
LaLiga media partner Orange teamed up with Google Assistant for an augmented reality stunt at the 2019-20 season opener between Celta Vigo and Real Madrid.
Know No Borders/Bitcoin – Sportsbet.io & Watford
Cryptocurrency sportsbook Sportsbet.io activated its Watford sponsorship through a two-pronged (shirt and sleeve) campaign that set out to simultaneously build its brand and drive awareness of Bitcoin.
Reimagine the Game – Siemens & Bayern Munich
Siemens showcased its data and analytics expertise by recording and visualising the fan energy and emotion of matches at Bayern’s Allianz Arena.
The Great Feyenoord DNA Study – Opel & Feyenoord
‘The Great Feyenoord DNA Study’ of 2018 saw sponsor Opel build data on the the club’s supporters by giving them a chance to understand their devotion to the team by literally studying their DNA.
Healthier, Longer, Better Lives – AIA & Tottenham Hotspur
AIA leveraged its partnership with Tottenham Hotspur to create video content pushing its umbrella corporate commitment to helping people live ‘Healthier, Longer, Better Lives’ across Asia-Pacific.
PSG extends stylish image with Replay deal
In October, Fashion Box, the parent company of Replay, agreed to a four-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain for rights to become the club’s first ‘Official Denim Partner’.
The deal is worth between €1.1m ($1.
Dacia: the Auction – Dacia & Udinese
Club and sponsor worked with agency Publicis Italia to turn a Serie A match against Lazio into a live auction raising funds for a set of fan causes.
Clench Your Teeth – Dentix & Atlético Madrid
Atléti and its official dental services provider promoted their partnership in 2017-18 with ‘Clench Your Teeth’.
Player power threatens clubs’ ability to maximise sponsorship income – report
Carlos Cantó, chief executive of boutique consultancy SPSG Consulting, has warned that clubs risk losing out on sponsorship revenue because their players have become competitors in content generation.
Closer Than You Think – Xylem & Manchester City
Closer Than You Think, the activation of Man City partner Xylem, aimed to drive awareness of and uncover solutions to the planet’s water challenges.