Everton Makes Video Game Angry Birds Its First Sleeve Sponsor

Premier League side Everton named video game franchise Angry Birds its "first ever sleeve sponsor," according to Chris Beesley of the LIVERPOOL ECHO. The club signed a multi-year shirt sleeve partnership with Rovio Entertainment -- the brand behind the Angry Birds franchise. The Angry Birds logo debuted on the left sleeve of the Everton jersey during its match at Old Trafford against ManU. Since launching in Dec. '09, Angry Birds has become a "worldwide phenomenon" with more than 3.7 billion game downloads. With 97% global brand awareness, over 450 million game downloads in '16, 80 million monthly active users, 25 million followers on Facebook and more than 3 billion YouTube views, Angry Birds’ worldwide digital reach "offers Everton and Rovio the opportunity to create innovative branded content using the club’s crest, players and stadium" (LIVERPOOL ECHO, 9/17). THE DRUM's John McCarthy reported publicizing the partnership is a short animated film featuring Red, the Angry Birds' protagonist, signing for Everton at the club's USM Finch Farm training ground. The content is "a nod to the insane player signing craze that has swept the sport this summer" (THE DRUM, 9/17).