Lisbon: Dubai-based Emirates airline has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Portugal’s most successful football club, Benfica.
Emirates is now the official airline partner of the club until 2016.
The agreement was announced on Wednesday by Hubert Frach, Emirates’ divisional senior vice-president Commercial Operations West, and Domingos Soares de Oliveira, CEO of Benfica, during a press conference held in Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica.
“We see our partnership with Benfica as an opportunity to connect with football fans in Portugal as well as the 14 million fans of the club spread across the world.” Frach said. “Benfica has a growing international reputation as one of the most successful clubs in European football history, and fits in perfectly with our own rapidly expanding worldwide network.”
“This day represents a new milestone for Sport Lisboa e Benfica because we celebrate new relationship with Emirates that allows us to partner with one of the most innovative brands in the world,” De Oliveira said. “Together, we share the same passion for what we do and I am confident that this partnership with Emirates will help us further connect with all of our passionate supporters around the globe.”
The sponsorship deal gives Emirates brand visibility at the Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, as well as promotional rights.
Emirates will also be able to capitalise on advertising opportunities on Benfica’s media platforms, which will include digital activations. The airline will also receive player access and interactive hospitality rights.
Benfica is one of the most successful clubs in the world, having won the Portuguese league 33 times and the European Cup twice.
Benfica will play a key role in Emirates’ sponsorship portfolio featuring top sporting clubs, tournaments and high-profile cultural events worldwide.
Emirates’ football sponsorship portfolio includes deals with Fifa, Arsenal, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Paris Saint Germain, Hamburger SV, Olympiakos, Arsenal Soccer Schools Dubai, The Emirates Cup and the Saudi Professional League.
Emirates is also the official airline and partner of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the governing body of Asian football, and has sponsorship rights to all its tournaments, including the AFC Champions League, AFC Cup and the AFC Challenge Cup, as well as a number of women’s and youth events.
Emirates is also sponsoring the Portugal Masters golf tournament this year, which forms part of the 48 tournament series on the European Tour schedule, called The Race to Dubai. The tournament lays the groundwork to the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
