By Mark Baber
June 4 – Barcelona has signed a wide-ranging partnership agreement with leading tyre brand Lassa, of Brisa (a joint venture of Turkey’s Sabancı Holding and Bridgestone) worth a reported €21.6 million ($24 million). As well as making Lassa the title sponsor of Barcelona’s indoor sports teams (Basketball, Handball, Futsal and Roller Hockey) which will be known by the name ‘FC Barcelona Lassa’ until 30 June 2019, the agreement sees the Turkey based company become an Official Partner of the Club and Lassa become the club’s official tyre.
The agreement, which will take force on June 1, was signed by the CEO of Brisa, Hakan Bayman, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and Barcelona first vice-president Javier Faus.
In addition to association and image rights, advertising and promotional rights, and hospitality rights, the new partnership will see Messi, Neymar Jr, Luis Suárez, Iniesta, Juan Carlos Navarro, Víctor Tomàs, Sergio Lozano and Aitor Egurrola, and others take part in promotional campaigns for Lassa Tyres.
Hakan Bayman commented saying: “FC Barcelona is among the world’s most appreciated clubs. It is a club that sets an example in traditional values and social vision, and has a strong academy culture that delivers success in sports. We believe that Brisa’s respect for people and the environment, and our focus on sustainable development, are in line with FC Barcelona’s deep-rooted values.
“At Brisa, we believe that our leading brand in the tyre industry, Lassa, is the perfect match for FC Barcelona. Today, vehicle owners and drivers can find Lassa Tyres in more than 60 countries. We will continue to proudly represent our country in global markets through this cooperation. We are already excited about joining forces in new projects with FC Barcelona, a club that values social responsibility highly, just like Brisa.”
Javier Faus said: “This is a great day for FC Barcelona’s Indoor Sports teams. We had an ambitious objective, which was to find a global partner for all of the Club’s indoor sports teams and thus boost the strength of our multi-sport status. Now we have one and we feel very satisfied. We couldn´t wish to have a better partner.
“Lassa Tyres forms part of a leading industrial group in Turkey, where Barça is a big name and where we already have very important partners. This agreement takes us even closer to our fans around the world thanks to the worldwide arena in which Lassa Tyres operates. This partnership provides support and impulse for our indoor sports, which are an integral part of us being More than a Club.”
Sabancı Holding is one of Turkey’s most powerful conglomerates, and the new agreement strengthens Barcelona’s links with Turkey which include a sponsorship agreement with Turkish Airlines.
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