DUBAI: The International Cricket Council Tuesday announced that GoDaddy Inc., a company that manages internet names and registrations, had come on board as an official sponsor of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019.
GoDaddy will be the global platform of the World Cup to drive even greater awareness, amongst tournament viewers and cricket enthusiasts, about the benefits for small business owners and entrepreneurs of creating a powerful online identity to help their ventures grow, the ICC stated in an official release.
While financial terms were not disclosed, business daily Mint, quoting sports marketing experts, estimates the sponsorship deal value to be between $2-3 million.
In India, GoDaddy has been associated with cricket in various formats and boasts MS Dhoni as its ‘Bijness Bhai’ brand ambassador.
GoDaddy joins a World Cup 2019 official sponsor roster that currently includes Moneygram, Bira, Uber and Coca Cola.
The ICC’s global partners include Japanese auto major Nissan, Chinese smartphone brand Oppo, MRF Tyres and Emirates Airlines, which are estimated to be paying about $6-8 million a year.
Campbell Jamieson, ICC’s general manager, Commercial, said: “We are excited to partner with GoDaddy for the Cricket World Cup 2019. GoDaddy has, for a long time, been a formidable supporter of sport in India and around the world and has successfully leveraged the influence of sports to empower and inspire entrepreneurs. Our partnership with GoDaddy connects their entrepreneurial zeal with the year’s biggest sporting extravaganza, which I know will be a winning combination.”
Commenting on the partnership, Nikhil Arora, managing director and vice president, GoDaddy India, said: “The Cricket World Cup tournament is a platform that offers a convergence of players, fans and communities. It is one of the biggest global phenomena, bringing people together across the globe, and is a perfect place for us to create awareness about the ease and affordability of GoDaddy’s online product and service offerings.
“We aim to use our partnership with ICC to tap cricket enthusiasts from all over the world, educating them about the benefits of digital adoption.”
Arora further added: “Cricket in India is a favourite sport. It is viewed in every nook and corner of our country, giving us an opportunity to reach our audiences, including in the Tier II & III markets, helping entrepreneurs and small business owners bring their ideas to life online.”
