By David Gold
September 7 – SportsMark, who are involved in the London 2012 Olympic Games on behalf of British Airways, has been appointed the exclusive agent in the United States for the sale of Official Hospitality Programmes for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
SportsMark has extensive experience in sports hospitality, having covered 11 Olympic Games and 7 World Cups among other events.
The organisation is also responsible for the planning, activation and management of British Airways’ VIP hospitality programme and employee engagement initiative for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
MATCH Hospitality AG, the exclusive rights holder for FIFA Hospitality Programmes, made the announcement that SportsMark would operate the programmes for the 2014 World Cup in the USA.
The organisation is based in Zurich, with further offices in Johannesburg and Rio de Janeiro, and they were appointed by FIFA as the global rights holder of the world football governing body’s Hospitality Programme.
The rights include the 2011 World Cup in Germany and the Confederations and World Cups being held in Brazil in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
The appointment is the first to be announced by MATCH ahead of the 2014 tournament.
SportsMark was also the exclusive hospitality sales agent in the US of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
They are also involved with the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014 and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The announcement reinforces the US’s position as a significant marketplace for international football.
Jaime Byrom, executive chairman of MATCH Hospitality commented: “MATCH Hospitality is very pleased to continue its successful association with SportsMark for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ in Brazil.
“We are happy to have this trusted partner again on board to offer our hospitality products as exclusive agents in the booming soccer hospitality market of the USA.
“SportsMark’s expertise and networks within the American market represents the best option for MATCH Hospitality.”
Steve Skubic, chief executive of SportsMark, added, “We are proud of our partnership renewal as the exclusive sales agent of MATCH Hospitality for the United States.
“After a successful tournament in South Africa together, this partnership allows us to provide our expanded offering of global football capabilities to new and existing clients.”
“We look forward to continuing our strong business partnership with MATCH Hospitality for Brazil 2014,” added SportsMark President Keith Bruce.
“SportsMark has grown to become a leading agency in international soccer marketing through the sponsor activation services and corporate hospitality programs we produce for our clients around the FIFA World Cup.
“The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil will offer an unsurpassed corporate experience, and we are excited about the opportunity to introduce American corporations and individuals to Brazil and the world-class hospitality services offered for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.”
The FIFA Hospitality Programme includes match tickets, facilities such as private suites and lounges, gourmet catering, preferential parking, transportation, entertainment and gifts.
Accommodation and transportation in Brazil are also included.
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