By Andrew Warshaw
August 15 – The new English Premier League season gets under way this weekend amid renewed concerns over the cost of ticket prices. Yesterday the Football Supporters’ Federation organised a march towards the London headquarters of the Premier League wielding banners declaring “Football without fans is nothing” and “Demand cuts in ticket prices”.
August 14 – Premier League Tottenham Hotspur, fresh from their pre-season tour of the US, have returned to North America to sign a youth ‘soccer’ partnership with Tallahasse United who will rename themselves Tallahassee Tottenham Hotspur.
August 13 – Premier League Champions Manchester City have announced two new partnerships days before they begin the defence of their league crown. Asian firm QNet will become the club’s Official Direct Selling Partner, while T.M. Lewin has become the club’s new Official Formal Wear Partner.
August 12 – Betting operator 666Bet have added to its Premier League portfolio becoming a platinum partner of newly promoted Leicester City. 666Bet is already the betting partner at West Bromwich Albion and most recently added Leyton Orient, becoming shirt sponsor at the League One club.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 1 – The pressure on Manchester United to put in a strong season and get back to dominating the Premier League under new coach Louis van Gaal has been underlined with the revelation that the club must return to the Champions League before the end of the 2016-17 season or face the prospect of a 30% reduction in their world record £75 million-a-year kit deal with Adidas.
Paul Nicholson
August 1 – The Glazer family are selling just under 5% of their shareholding in Manchester United. The sale of the eight million shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) will realise about $150 million for the family.
July 31 – Vanishing spray, introduced by FIFA for the World Cup in Brazil to mark out the defensive wall at freekicks just outside the penalty area, is to be used in the English Premier League this coming season.
By Ben Nicholson
July 24 – NBC Sports, who own the Barclays Premier League broadcasting rights in the US, have teamed up with Fathom Events, a renowned alternative entertainment industry company that offers “one-of-a-kind entertainment events in movie theatres”, to bring the Barclays Premier League to 33 movie theatres across the USA. The pair has struck a deal to show the games on the big screen starting on the opening day of the season,
July 22 – English Premier League champions Manchester City have launched a new membership and loyalty scheme, Cityzens, costing £35 per year for adults and £25 for under 16s.
July 21 – Chinese telecommunications specialist Huawei has unveiled its first Arsenal smartphone as part of a multi-million pound sponsorship deal that was signed in January and will see the brand as the Official Smartphone Partner of the north London club until the end of season 2015/16.
By Mark Baber
July 18 – 12BET, the sports betting brand, have confirmed a new two-year sponsorship of Hull City Tigers. The sponsorship is the largest in the club’s history, following a successful season in the Premier League and an FA Cup run that saw the club make it all the way to the final, though not to lift the trophy.
By Mark Baber
July 14 – Manchester United and Adidas have agreed the biggest ever deal in sports licensing history as the German sportswear giant will sponsor the United kit as technical sponsor and dual branded licensing partner. The deal is for a minimum of £75 million ($128 million) a year for the next ten years, beginning with the 2015-2016 season.
By Mark Baber
July 9 – Nike has confirmed that they will not be bidding for the right to sponsor Manchester United kits. The 2014-15 kit, unveiled on Monday, will be the last made by Nike, bringing a 13-year relationship to an end.
By Paul Nicholson
July 8 – English club ownership continues to attract investors though the anticipated sale of Premier League Aston Villa by its American owner Randy Lerner has faltered. Neighbouring Premier League club West Bromwich Albion has seen ownership control shift further to chairman Jeremy Peace, while mercurial sports entrepreneur Barry Hearn has sold his League 2 club Leyton Orient to Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti.
July 8 – Manchester United FC are extending their reach into Taiwan, China by launching their first ever football camp in the Taipei Municipal Stadium. Their Official tyre partner of China and Russia, Federal Tyres is sponsoring 32 children aged 6-14 to take part in one of two 3-day camps.