February 17 – English Championship club West Bromwich Albion, who are currently in the play-off positions and looking to bounceback to the Premier League after just a season out, have added trading services provider Trade Nation as a major commercial partner.
February 16 – UEFA’s partnership with blockchain-based Fan Token platform Socios, announced yesterday, has quickly drawn criticism from fan groups who accuse the European governing body of leaving fans in the hands of “crypto-mercenaries”.
February 15 – UEFA has welcomed the ruling by a French court that has issued injunctions that will block internet providers carrying pirated streams of Champions League matches.
February 14 – With the MLS season kick off less than two weeks away clubs and the MLS itself are scrambling to close new partnership and sponsorship deals for the season.
By Paul Nicholson
February 11 – For the first time the overseas broadcast rights revenues for the Premier League will be higher than the domestic broadcast deal.
February 11 – Botafogo have signed a sponsorship agreement with Turkish blockchain platform Bitci, becoming the latest Brazilian club to enter the fan-token market.
February 11 – Manchester United has entered the cryptocurrency and blockchain world for the forst time with a partnership with Swiss-based Tezos who will have their logo on the men’s and women’s training kits.
February 11 – LaLiga has added another sponsor category to its fast expanding portfolio. Cabreiroá has become theofficial water of LaLiga’s three divisions with immediate effect.
By Paul Nicholson
February 10 – European Club Association (ECA) chair Nasser Al-Khelaifi (pictured) has written to the 240+ members saying that the new three-year commercial deal agreed with TEAM Marketing and Relevent Sports Group is a watershed moment for the association.
February 10 – Online bookmaker Betway has again expanded its international football marketing footprint with its first sponsorship deals in Chile, signing up five clubs in the Chilean First Division.
February 8 – Financially challenged Barcelona are reportedly on the verge of agreeing a €280 million shirt and training kit deal with streaming service Spotify.
February 8 – Online car retailer Cazoo will become the main sponsor of LaLiga’s Real Sociedad from the start of next season. The deal will see the brand take the club’s front of shirt logo position.
February 8 – TEAM Marketing has retained the rights to the UEFA men’s Champions League for the rights cycle 2024-27, but has ceded media sales rights to Relevent Sports Group in the US.
February 8 – The advantage of having a large sales portfolio of big and champion (or near champion clubs) means you can slice and dice your inventory.
February 4 – Premier League Liverpool FC have signed a multi-year agreement with Vista who become the club’s Official Small Business Design & Marketing partner.