Man City agreed to a new multi-year deal that will see EA Sports remain the club's official gaming partner. The renewal continues a five-year partnership with the video game developer and will allow Man City fans to enjoy exclusive content across the club's digital platforms (Man City).
LOCAL DEAL: Premier League side Sunderland agreed to a partnership with Sunderland College. Sunderland College will work in conjunction with the club on a number of different projects locally, nationally and internationally. The partnership will see wider opportunities for Sunderland College students to work with the club on a variety of placement schemes as well as support Sunderland's day-to-day business activity (Sunderland).
DELIVERY SERVICE: DHL has extended its partnership with the Indian Super League "for the second time in a row as its associate sponsor." DHL will officially deliver the match ball for all games in the current season and will also award the "DHL Winning Pass" to the player who contributes the highest number of assists during each game (TELEVISION POST, 9/28).
MARKETPLACE BRIEFS ...
Football Federation Australia announced it partnered with int'l sports apparel brand BLK as the official referee apparel supplier for the next four seasons. The deal will see BLK, a subsidiary of WRS Group, produce all on-field and training apparel for A-League, W-League and National Youth League referees through the '18-19 season. The product range represents BLK's second entry into the A-League, following its partnership with the Newcastle Jets which started in '14 (FFA).
Serie A side Pescara signed up Italian menswear brand Armata di Mare as its "new back-of-shirt sponsor." The one-year deal "begins with this weekend's fixture against Chievo Verona at the club's Stadio Adriatico home ground," and runs for the remainder of the '16-17 season. Armata di Mare's branding "will be worn on the back of the team's playing jerseys, below the squad numbers" (SOCCEREX, 9/28).
Serie B side Spezia agreed to a "main sponsorship deal with Arquati, a manufacturer of sun protection solutions." The company "will see its logo featured on Spezia's playing jerseys for the next two seasons." The club will "also promote Arquati's products across its communication materials, including on its website and matchday programmes" (SOCCEREX, 9/28).
Tour de France organizer Amaury Sport Organization and French sports equipment company Le Coq Sportif announced they “renewed their partnership for the next five years.” Until at least ’21, the Tour de France leader’s jersey “will be provided by Le Coq Sportif.” Outside of the Tour de France, the partnership “also includes other cycling events organized by ASO like Paris-Nice, Paris-Roubaix, le Tour de Yorkshire and le Critérium du Dauphiné” (SPORTBUZZ BUSINESS, 9/29).
Serie A side Fiorentina unveiled a “new sponsorship agreement” with French car rental company Europcar. It is the second French company to sponsor the club “following its kit supplier Le Coq Sportif.” No financials have been announced but “it is estimated to be” between €500,000 ($561,680) and €1M ($1.12M) (ECOFOOT, 9/29).
