Dubai: Emirates airline announced a three-year shirt sponsorship agreement with Benfica, Portugal’s most successful football club, in Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz on Tuesday.
The agreement will see the Emirates logo displayed on the front side of Benfica jerseys until the end of the 2017-18 season. The deal comes 10 months after Emirates partnered with the club as their official airline.
Tim Clark, president of Emirates, said: “Expanding our connection with Benfica today highlights our commitment to sports’ sponsorship around the world, a marketing strategy adopted at an early stage of the airline’s 30 years. As one of the top football clubs in Europe and with a strong international appeal, Benfica is well placed to join the Emirates sponsorship portfolio.”
“This announcement is not just about sport, it is also an Emirates’ investment in Portugal. Since we started flying from Dubai to Lisbon in 2012, we have experienced a sturdy demand for our daily flights and now we look to 2016 and doubling the ways to increase the mutually beneficial trade and tourism our flights brings to the country,” he commented
Speaking at the press conference, Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira, said: “We share with Emirates a bold and modern vision as well as a growth strategy sustained in medium and long-term projects. This new partnership with Emirates will help us fly higher and reach further. Benfica will now be a part of an elite group of football clubs that many aim to be a part of, but few succeed: To show off Fly Emirates on their jerseys.”
Benfica is one of Europe’s most successful clubs and celebrated winning their 34th Portuguese Primera Liga this season. The Lisbon club will be another high-profile addition to Emirates’ sponsorship portfolio which already includes clubs such as Real Madrid, Arsenal and AC Milan.
The new-look kit for next season was showcased at the press conference and will be on sale from July 1.
