Premier League club West Ham United announced a "new three-year partnership with American destination marketing firm, Experience Kissimmee," according to Billy Wood of BDAILY. The deal, which will begin this season, sees the Florida-based firm become the Hammers’ official destination partner with fans "set to benefit from holiday offers to the city" which is located near Orlando. It comes after the club completed a successful U.S. tour in preseason "with a view of growing the East London side’s fanbase in the increasingly lucrative American market" (BDAILY, 8/9). In Orlando, Caitlin Dineen reported the deal "includes high-profile marketing placement at the team's stadium." Experience Kissimmee President & CEO DT Minich said that Osceola County's tourism arm is "now the team's official destination partner." Minich added that the partnership is the "first of its kind between a U.S. destination" and a Premier League team. Minich: "This agreement will put the Experience Kissimmee brand in front of sold-out crowds in the heart of one of our most important travel markets." As part of the agreement, the Experience Kissimmee logo will be on buses used by visiting teams and "will be displayed on large LED screens outside the stadium, across from Westfield Stratford City, one of the largest shopping centers in Europe" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 8/9).
