EPL Club West Ham Loses Jersey Sponsor As Company Crumbles

West Ham To Seek New Sponsor After XL Collapses

English Premier League club West Ham United for Saturday's game at West Bromwich Albion will likely have "no advertising on their shirts after XL, the holiday package firm who sponsor the club, went into administration," according to John Ley of the London TELEGRAPH. Moves were being made "late into [Thursday] night to rescue the travel firm," but the "economic downturn and rising fuel prices have been blamed for XL's demise." XL last summer signed a three-year jersey sponsorship deal with the club for US$4.4M annually, but West Ham now "will begin searching for a new sponsor." It is understood that West Ham is "still owed a small amount of money as part" of the sponsorship agreement, but that the club is not "wholly concerned about the financial aspect" (London TELEGRAPH, 9/12). The BBC's Simon Austin reports XL had only paid the first year of the contract, meaning West Ham has "yet to receive" US$8.8M (BBC.co.uk, 9/12). Under the agreement, XL has their name on the front of West Ham's jerseys, as well as on "the roof of one of the stands" at the club's Upton Park stadium. XL also was given a "hospitality box at the ground to entertain clients" (LONDON TIMES, 9/12).