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 Arsenal Football Club has today signed the biggest club sponsorship agreement in football history with Emirates Airline in an agreement worth £100 million. The agreement provides the Dubai-based international airline with naming rights to Arsenal's new £357 million stadium. The new 60,000 seat stadium will be known as Emirates Stadium with immediate effect and for the next 15 years.
In addition, Emirates will take over as the Club's title sponsor – including 'Fly Emirates' shirt sponsorship – for eight years, starting from the 2006/07 season, the first playing season in the new Emirates Stadium.
The combined value of both elements of this sponsorship is by far the biggest deal ever undertaken in English football. It will also create a meaningful and long-lasting relationship between Emirates and Arsenal Football Club.
The agreement was signed today at Highbury by Arsenal Chairman Peter Hill-Wood and Maurice Flanagan, Emirates Vice Chairman and Group President.
Emirates flies to Malta thrice weekly, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays on A330-200. The airline operates services to 77 cities in 54 countries in Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa, Indian subcontinent and Asia-Pacific.
Keith Edelman, Managing Director of Arsenal Football Club said: "The sheer size and scale of this deal is an amazing opportunity for Arsenal. We are delighted to have Emirates as our partner and sponsor.
"Emirates is a quality airline and an established global brand, with a proven track record in football and sport sponsorship. This long-term association is an excellent opportunity for both of us. It will help Arsenal reach new markets and build on our existing fan base across the world, thanks in no small part to the airline's global route network. We are grateful to Emirates for its faith in us and look forward to working with them."
Arsenal is one of the most famous and widely supported football clubs in the world. The Club enjoys support from its enormous fan base around the globe with interest in the team spreading from its traditional European base to encompass huge support in Asia, as well as in Australasia and the American continent. Emirates will work closely with Arsenal to extend this ever-growing fan base, to develop exciting opportunities for the team and the airline around the world.
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman of Emirates, believes sport sponsorship is a vital part of the airline's growth strategy and that Arsenal is a perfect partner for Emirates.
Sheikh Ahmed said: "This is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sponsor such a major new stadium and club, and represents a win-win partnership for both Emirates and Arsenal.
"Arsenal Football Club has proved itself one of the world's best, with an outstanding record in the English Premiership including, of course, being the current Premiership Champions, and also remaining unbeaten for the last 48 league matches."
Maurice Flanagan, Emirates Vice Chairman and Group President, said: "Arsenal's approach and winning team parallel the ambitions and achievements of Emirates Airline. We strive for quality of service and success in everything we do and these values are the essence of our exciting new partnership with Arsenal."
Sheikh Ahmed added: "Sports sponsorships provide an international platform to connect with our customers. We believe sponsorship is one of the best ways of getting closer to our customers. It allows us to share and support their interests and to build a personal relationship with them. There is no greater vehicle for this than through English football and we are looking forward to a long and very happy relationship with Arsenal."
© Copyright 2006 - MaltaMedia Online Network
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