Adidas and Real Madrid close in on €1.1bn sponsorship renewal
November 6 – Reports from Spain indicate Real Madrid are on the verge of signing a €1.1 billion sponsorship renewal with Adidas.
Football Marketing
Bayern target Latin America with Spanish-language online shop
November 5 – Bayern Munich has taken a deeper step into the Spanish-speaking Latin American market with the launch of a Spanish language online shop.
Relevant and LaLiga launch fan petition to bring Girona vs Barca league match to Miami
November 1 – The much-publicised overseas La Liga game between Girona and Barcelona, which FIFA have insisted cannot go ahead in Miami in January, has taken another twist with US fans being asked to sign a petition in favour of the ground-breaking fixture.
Conmebol lands Qatar Airways as its first airline sponsor for club competitions
November 1 – Qatar Airways has become the Official Global Airline Partner of South American confederation Conmebol’s club competitions with immediate effect. The deal will last 4.5 years, taking them through the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Coffee break: Lavazza takes over at Anfield with exclusive Liverpool deal
November 1 – Liverpool have added the Lavazza Group as the club’s official coffee partner in the UK. The deal will see Lavazza become the exclusive coffee at the Anfield Stadium.
Man United keeps sponsor roster healthy with Canon Medical renewal
November 1 – Manchester United have renewed their partnership with Canon Medical Systems Europe as the club’s Official Medical Systems Partner. The agreement was first signed in 2013.
AFC and DDMC Fortis sign off on $3.4bn rights deal
By Paul Nicholson
October 29 – Ink has gone to paper on the most significant commercial rights deal in international football this year with the Asian Football Confederation and DDMC Fortis signing off on an eight-year partnership with a minimum guarantee reported to be around $3.4 billion.
Bundesliga trio build on trade links in China with Jiangsu collaboration
October 29 – The collective German football focus on cracking the Chinese market has seen Borussia Mönchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund and FC Schalke 04, from North Rhine-Westphalia sign a collaboration partnership with Jiangsu Football Association following a trade mission organised by the German regional government.
England legend Glenn Hoddle saved on set by rapid response sound man
October 29 – Former England manager Glenn Hoddle is “responding well” to treatment in hospital after having suffered a heart attack on Saturday.
UEFA opens up Women’s Football sponsor categories for 2018-21 cycle
October 26 – UEFA has gone to market with a new set of sponsorship categories for its Women’s Football properties for the 2018-2021 cycle.
Spurs open biggest club shop in Europe and plan on getting a Stadium for Christmas
October 25 – Tottenham Hotspur have made a statement of intent with the opening of the largest club shop in Europe at their new stadium.
Arsenal launch AI ‘Robot Pires’ to boost fan engagement
October 25 – Arsenal have launched a new chat tool, powered by artificial intelligence and operating across social media channels including Facebook Messenger, Slack, Sky and Telegram, that will give supporters easy access to the latest news, fixtures, results, videos, player stats and ticket information.
End of era for host broadcasting as Tellier steps down at HBS
By David Owen
October 23 – Next month will bring the end of a football broadcasting era, with Francis Tellier set to step down as chief executive of Host Broadcast Services (HBS) after almost two decades.
Boost for SPFL as Betfred extends Scottish League Cup title sponsorship
October 22 – Bookmaker Betfred has agreed a one-year extension to its title sponsorship of the Scottish League Cup taking the company through to the end of the 2019/20 season.
Eleven Sports pressured to drop 3pm broadcasts in UK, but promises fight is not over
October 19 – Internet sports broadcaster Eleven Sports says it is reluctantly dropping screening European football matches in the UK on Saturday afternoons.