Aston Villa in sponsorship deal with gaming firm 32Red |
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Fri, 07 Apr 2006 18:00
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LONDON: Premier League club Aston Villa is into a new shirt sponsorship deal with internet gaming company 32Red. Under the two-year sponsorship deal, for which 32Red will pay a "basic six figure sum per season", the club's players will don the company's logo on their shirts. In addition, the club will also receive revenue under a marketing affiliate arrangement with the company.
Sales director of Aston Villa Stuart Ryan said the club had held discussions with a number of companies about shirt sponsorship and this is the best deal in so many ways. The Gibraltar-based, AIM-listed company, which is into casinos and online poker games, is a modern, pro-active company at the forefront of its sector and "we're looking forward to working with them as commercial partners rather than merely sponsors," said Ryan.
Aston Villa, under coach David O'Leary, former Ireland defender and Arsenal player, is at the 16th position in the 20-club Premier League. The club's current sponsor is DWS Investments.
The deal follows a similar agreement between Manchester United and U.S. insurance company AIG, which covers four years and 56.6 million pounds, and which is considered the biggest sponsorship in British football. Manchester United had turned down a higher offer from Mansion, a gambling and casino operator based in Gibraltar, describing such a collaboration as not in its interests.
Aston Villa did not specify the exact value of the deal, but Ryan said initial seasonal payments and the revenue sharing agreement would mean the overall package could be "worth a healthy seven figure sum per season to the club".
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