Marriott Bonvoy checks in with US Soccer for a multi-year stay
January 26 – The US Soccer Federation has agreed a multi-year deal with Marriott Bonvoy who will become the federation’s Official Hotel Partner.
Football Marketing
Raiffeisen Bank branches out with naming rights to Kosovo’s top tier league
January 25 – The Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK) has agreed a sponsorship with Raiffeisen Bank who become the main sponsor of the Kosovan First Football League, which from the spring of 2024 will be renamed the Raiffeisen First League.
Inter Miami and Royal Caribbean launch main sponsorship, and a ship
January 25 – Inter Miami have launched their partnership with cruise line Royal Caribbean International becoming the club’s main sponsor in a multi-year deal starting with the 2024 season.
Red Star close to resigning Telekom Srbija to a paid contract
January 24 – Serbia’s Red Star Belgrade (Crvena Zvezda) said they are about to renew their sponsorship with Telekom Srbija, despite the contract having expired last summer.
Telekom Srbija has been the club’s main sponsor and its branding is still seen around the club. Red Star’s general secretary Zvezdan Terzic (pictured) said that while the current sponsorship is not paid for, that will change.
Currently Red Star’s main sponsor is Russian oil company Gazprom.
Man Utd to launch new global e-commerce site on Scayle platform
January 24 – Premier League Manchester United is partnering with Scayle to launch its official e-commerce site globally.
Turkish SuperLig debuts SAOT as part of Türk Telekom renewal
January 23 – The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) and state-owned telecommunications giant Türk Telekom have renewed their long-term cooperation, with Türk Telekom becoming the technological sponsor of the Trendyol Super Lig.
Skoda plugs-in to women’s game and Chelsea
January 22 – Skoda have announced a partnership with Chelsea FC Women which will see the auto brand become Official Car Partner of the six-time Barclays WSL champions.
DFL extends EA Sports deal until 2027
January 19 – Germany’s DFL and EA Sports have extended their partnership until 2027, seeing EA Sports retain exclusive license rights for the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 in future EA Sports FC titles.
North Macedonia renew kit deal wth Jako for another year
January 19 – The Football Federation of North Macedonia has renewed its kit with German sportswear supplier Jako for another year.
Dubai-based CFI Financial Group agrees AC Milan global partnership
January 19 – UAE-based online trading provider CFI Financial Group has agreed a global partnership with AC Milan, becoming the Italian Official Online Trading Partner.
DAZN drops women’s football pay wall calling for stakeholders to unite around a ‘new deal’
January 18 – Streaming platform DAZN has dropped its pay wall for all women’s live football broadcasts for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.
New report identifies ESG as key in sponsorship decision making, with AI looming
January 1 – Brands are continuing to make ESG (environmental, social, and governance) as the most important criteria in their sponsorship decisions, according to a new report.
Six tech start-ups picked to form first year of MLS Innovation Lab
January 18 – Major League Soccer has named six tech start-ups who will form the launch companies supported by the new MLS Innovation Lab.
Bayern add Bitpanda as crypto partner
January 17 – FC Bayern Munich have agreed a multi-year partnership with Bitpanda which will see the financial technology company become the record German champions’ new Platinum Partner and official crypto trading partner for the first time.
Soccerex back in Europe with Amsterdam date set for May
January 17 – Soccerex is on a roll. Having held its US event in November last year in Miami, in early January it announced an event for March in Rio de Janeiro and has now announced a new event in Amsterdam for May 30-31.