AS Roma go crypto with Socios.com Fan Token launch
July 19 – Serie A’s AS Roma is to launch club fan tokens via the Socios.com blockchain-based platform, joining Juventus, PSG and West Ham who already have tradeable fan tokens.
Football Marketing
Man City launch club OTT platform with 2019 season-end doco and pre-season games
July 18 – Manchester City has launched its own streaming service, Man City for TV, for fans globally with a free month’s trial before pricing goes to £1.99 per month.
Premier League wins Irish ruling that will enforce blocking of illegal live streams
July 18 – Irish fans of the English Premier League who rely on illegal internet streams to watch matches may soon no longer have access.
Liverpool tap into video gamers with FIFA 20 and Roblox deals
July 17 – Liverpool has entered into two new game partnerships, one with partnered with the EA Sports’ FIFA video game franchise which will become the club’s Official Football Simulation Game Partner and another with video gaming platform Roblox.
BBC swoops on 2021 Women’s Euros after ratings success of France 2019
July 17 – British public broadcaster BBC has secured the broadcasting rights for the 2021 UEFA Women’s European Championship, which England will host.
MG goes full throttle with Liverpool to take on global partnership
July 17 – Liverpool have expanded their MG Motor sponsorship from a regional focus to seeing the car marque being given the moniker of Official Global Car Partner of Liverpool.
US women get $529K pay boost from P&G’s Secret Deodorant
July 15 – Procter and Gamble brand Secret Deodorant is giving each member of the US World Cup winning squad $23,000 and its backing in their equal pay dispute with the US Soccer Federation.
Saints renew Utilita and add Kuflink to sponsor roster
July 12 – Premier League Southampton have renewed Utilita as the club’s Official Energy and Utilities Partner as well as adding Kuflink as the club’s new Official Peer to Peer Investment Partner.
TECNO dials in Man City with new deal and Indian focus
July 11 – Mobile handset brand TECNO has extended its sponsorship of Manchester City that was first signed in December 2016.
Liverpool joins Barca and Spurs on 1XBet sponsor roster
July 10 – Following up on their 1XBet has announced a five-year sponsorship deal with FC Barcelona, 1XBet has unveiled a new multi-year partnership with Liverpool. No value or term for the Liverpool deal has been released.
Captain Morgan opens up MLS market with as league’s first spirits sponsor
July 10 – Major League Soccer has signed its first spirit sponsor with Captain Morgan becoming the league’s official spiced rum and exclusive spirits partner.
As Saudis and Arabsat refuse to act, beoutQ keeps up its thieving of 2019 AFCON
July 9 – Saudi-based broadcaster beoutQ has continued its theft of live broadcast rights, tacitly backed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and more overtly backed by Arabsat. It has stolen all 36 group matches of CAF’s Total Africa Cup of Nations.
Budweiser keep their eye on the US women with first NWSL deal
July 7 – With the Women’s World Cup ending in France with a win for the US, Budweiser has announced it is extending its women’s football sponsorship in a multi-year partnership with the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the nine-team professional women’s league in the US.
Barca get bookie backing from 1xBet in 5-year deal
July 5 – With online bookmakers and Spanish LaLiga clubs speed dating to sponsorships almost daily, 1xBet has announced a five-year sponsorship deal with FC Barcelona.
Man Utd engages its 100m Chinese fans with ‘Experience’ centre and localised app
July 4 – Manchester United has initiated a two-pronged brand offensive in the Chinese market, annoucing an interactive ‘Experience centre’ which it will roll out across the country, as well as a dedicated Chinese language app.