Liverpool Renews Bank Of America Deal; Plans Tour Of Far East

Liverpool Signs Four-Year Sponsorship Renewal With Bank Of America

EPL club Liverpool Commercial Dir Ian Ayre said that the team has agreed to a four-year, US$7M sponsorship extension that gives BofA use of Liverpool's "logo in its branding and ... access to corporate seats at Anfield stadium," according to Tariq Panja of BLOOMBERG NEWS. Ayre, who is a "candidate to replace" outgoing Liverpool CEO Rick Parry, said that the club also is "in talks with other potential sponsors." Ayre: "We are in very, very late stage discussions with two or three very big sponsors." He noted that the potential sponsors are "in the consumer electronics, gaming and automotive sectors." Liverpool is the "seventh-richest club in the world" with revenue of US$264.6M in '07-08, and Ayre said that "sponsorship gains made in the past 12 months mean he 'would be shocked if we didn't climb further.'" Meanwhile, Panja reported Liverpool also plans a tour of Asia which will include Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong in an effort to "expand its Asian fan base" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 3/4). The Manchester GUARDIAN reports the preseason tour will take place July 17-26, and "given the club's appeal throughout the world, ... the trip should prove to be a money-spinner." Ayre: "If you are going to build a business overseas a key part is to allow people to touch and feel the product on a regular basis. What is clear is that there is an opportunity for Liverpool to do much better than they had in the past" (Manchester GUARDIAN, 3/5).