Nigerian mobile provider MTN begins multi-pronged Arsenal sponsorship
Arsenal has further expanded its commercial interests following the signing of a broad sponsorship deal with Nigerian mobile provider MTN, which will see the club deliver exclusive content to their African fan base.
Under the deal, the Premier League club will deliver match highlights, news and player interviews to MTN’s customer base together with a range of promotional and marketing activities including local coaching sessions.
Vinai Venkatesham, Arsenal's chief commercial officer, said: "This partnership with MTN will really help us engage with these passionate fans on a regular and personal basis. We are expecting MTN's Arsenal exclusive content to be very popular among our supporters, as well as followers of football generally."
Outlining the deal from their own perspective, MTN's consumer marketing general manager, Richard Iweanoge, added: "We are excited to announce our partnership with Arsenal and look forward to engaging with sports enthusiasts beyond the current traditional broadcast of matches. Not only this but also digitally with access to exclusive contents that will be delivered via our network."
Nigeria has proven to be fertile ground for Arsenal; the club’s popularity has seen the West African state rise to become the team’s largest source of web traffic outside the UK.
Arsenal has been an enthusiastic adopter of digital technology to reach-out to its global fan base, producing a Junior Gunners app last year to reach out to a new generation of fans.