Saracens announce new Stadium & Shirt Sponsor partnership with Allianz

Premiership rugby club Saracens have announced a multi-year deal with German financial services company Allianz, in a new six-year partnership that will see the club’s new £20 million stadium in north London officially known as Allianz Park.

According to media reports, it becomes one of the largest commercial arrangements in England’s Aviva Premiership.
Additionally, Allianz will also serve as Saracens’ major shirt sponsor beginning with the 2012/13 rugby season.

Nigel Wray, the club’s chairman, told The Telegraph: ‘This deal represents a massive step forward for Saracens. Over the past three years the club has made outstanding progress in terms of team performance on the field, building a strong global profile and securing a home ground. We are now starting to realise our commercial potential.’
When complete, Saracens’ new 10,000-capacity stadium in Barnet will be the first in the Premiership to utilise a synthetic turf pitch.

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Leeds win case on costs for outside Policing

English league club Leeds United has won its High Court action against West Yorkshire Police over who should pay for policing on match days.

The Championship side had argued that it was wrong for the force to charge it for policing streets and car parks near its Elland Road ground, saying that this fell within the scope of normal police obligations to maintain public order.

Mr Justice Eady ruled the club should not pay for policing the wider area.

Michael Beloff QC, had told Mr Justice Eady the club was content to pay for services within the stadium and on land owned or controlled by it, but policing on land not owned or controlled by the club did not constitute special police services.

“West Yorkshire Police’s insistence on charging Leeds United Football Club for such policing is illegal,” he said.

He added that the action was “in the nature of a test case” and the footballing and policing worlds hoped the ruling would provide “powerful guidance” on the issue.

 

 

Premier League Shirt Sponsorships for season 2012/13 up 25%

Coming into next season, English Premier League total shirt sponsorship has increased by 25 per cent to £147million ($230m), according to This is Money.

The £30million ($47m) increase in sponsorship revenues reconfirms the strength of the Premier League as a product, allowing clubs to benefit despite uncertain economic conditions.

The biggest financial leaps this season have come from clubs in the north-east, with Sunderland and Newcastle both successfully negotiating lucrative new deals.

Sunderland recently signed a staggering £20million ($31.2m)-a-year agreement with Invest in Africa, a deal as lucrative as the highest enjoyed by Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool. The deal means an extra £19million ($29.6m) a year for the club.

Newcastle have seen an increase of £7.5million ($11.7m) a year after thrashing out a £10million ($15.6m) a year deal with Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Money after Virgin bought the previous sponsor, Northern Rock.

West Bromwich, Stoke, Norwich and QPR have improved their deals this season, and the overall total is boosted as the three newcomers to the Premier League — West Ham, Reading and Southampton — will earn a little more combined for their shirt deals (£3.2million/$5m) than the three relegated clubs, Bolton, Wolves and Blackburn (£1.85million/$2.88m together) last season.

Barclays agree a new deal with the Premier League

Barclays and the Premier League have agreed a new three-year deal for Barclays to continue as the global title sponsor of the Barclays Premier League to 2016.

The deal, with a value of £40m a season to the Premier League, will run for three seasons from 2013/14 to the end of the 2015/16 season.

The agreement includes the global title sponsorship of the Premier League and exclusive world-wide marketing rights, UK and international TV programme accreditation, extensive advertising rights, match day tickets and hospitality as well as joint community activity.

Barclays and the Premier League will continue the Barclays Asia Trophy tournament and the Barclays Premier League Trophy Tour that will next visit Africa and the USA.

The Barclays Premier League is broadcast for over 185,000 hours a season reaching 212 territories and over 650 million homes with a cumulative global audience of 4.7 billion.

FA Warn fans of illegal Olympic Football ticket sites

The Football Association have warned fans not use unauthorised websites in buying Olympic tickets for Team GB matches.

Some supporters have reported a United States-based website offering tickets for the double-header at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium on Friday, July 20 at hugely inflated prices.

An FA spokesman said: “The FA would strongly recommend to all supporters only to buy through official channels.

“As the only warm-up match for both Great Britain football squads prior to the Olympics, this is the last chance for fans to see the teams live and we don’t want anyone to be disappointed.”