LONDON: Arsenal FC have signed a record deal to renew their shirt sponsorship deal with their current partner Emirates airline for another five years, the Premier League club announced Monday.
The London club and the Dubai-based airline first signed a sponsorship contract in 2006, and on Monday extended the deal until the end of the 2023/2024 season for an undisclosed sum, although Arsenal confirmed it was the “largest ever signed by the club and one of the biggest ever agreed in football”.
According to UK’s Telegraph, the club will increase its spending power from 2019 by around £20 million ($28 million) from the deal that will be worth more than £200 million ($280 million) until 2024.
According to the Telegraph report, Arsenal have also negotiated the freedom from next year to seek its first sleeve sponsor, which is expected to be worth annually between £5 million and £10 million.
The new Emirates deal will put Arsenal joint second in the Premier League with Chelsea (behind Manchester United) for shirt sponsor value.
“Our shirt partnership is the longest running in the Premier League and one of the longest relationships in world sport,” Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis said.
“This mutual commitment is testimony to the strength and depth of our unique relationship.”
“Emirates are again demonstrating their great belief in our approach and ambition and their significantly increased investment will help us continue to compete for trophies and bring more success to the club and our fans around the world,” he added.
In addition to being shirt sponsors, with the Emirates brand continuing to appear on Arsenal’s playing and training kits, Emirates will provide access to their planes for Arsenal to use on pre-season tours. Emirates will retain marketing rights to develop campaigns and initiatives around the world. Arsenal’s home will continue to be known as Emirates Stadium up to 2028, as part of the extension agreed in 2012.
Emirates’ shirt partnership began in the 2006/2007 season, and this extension means that Emirates branding will remain on the shirt of all Arsenal teams for at least 18 years.
Emirates president, Tim Clark, said: “Arsenal’s strong appeal and influence around the globe, combined with their ambitions as a club makes them an ideal partner for Emirates, with values that reflect ours as a brand. As a long-standing supporter of football, we are passionate about the game and are a proud partner to the team.”
“As a business, we are hugely committed to supporting sports all over the world and our relationship with Arsenal is no different. Our partnership with Arsenal Football Club is a great combination of two truly global brands and we’re very pleased to have extended this relationship for five more years – connecting fans from around the world with one of the greatest teams in the world.”
Aside from partnerships with some of the biggest clubs in European football, Emirates is the Official Airline of international sporting events across golf, tennis, rugby, cricket, horse racing and motorsports.
