Belgian Pro League side KV Mechelen confirmed AFAS "as the new
naming rights partner" of its home stadium. The multi-national software
company, already a co-sponsor of the
Belgian Pro League club, "signed a five-year deal to sponsor the
venue" until '20. The AFAS Stadion, previously called Argosstadion
Achter de Kazerne,
"is due to be renovated this summer" (SOCCEREX, 5/18). ... Bundesliga side SC Freiburg and RAFI have extended their partnership for a further three years. The company will remain the main sponsor of Freiburg's football academy and a premium partner of the club (SC Freiburg). ... Golden Goal marketing agency closed a partnership with Maracanã stadium to "commercialize parts of the noble spaces" of the Rio de Janeiro facility as the agency "takes advantage" of post-World Cup opportunities. Golden Goal will sell the stadium's boxes, which fit up to 39 people, for R$145,000 ($48,140) to R$533,000 ($177,000) (MAQUINA DO ESPORTE, 5/18). ... Athletic training company EXOS is the newest partner of Brasileiro side Atlético Paranaense. EXOS will work alongside the club with the objective of optimizing the performance of its athletes (Atlético-PR). ... TSB Bank will be the naming rights sponsor on the back of the jersey of Taranaki Rugby. TSB Bank's name will replace Port Taranaki on the back of the jersey after it became the major naming rights sponsor for the team. It is the first time the bank has been a major sponsor of Taranaki Rugby (TRFU). ... BNL Group BNP Paribas and the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) announced a partnership to develop initiatives and projects aimed at backing sporting activities at all levels. BNL is the main sponsor of CONI exclusively for banking activity and for financial services (CONI).
