Melbourne City FC enters 5-year sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways
Melbourne City Football Club has announced a five year sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways.
Etihad also sponsors Manchester City FC
The agreement includes jersey naming rights as well as joint initiatives to develop junior football schools, and competitions and promotional airfares for club fans.
The Australian side’s jerseys will now promote Etihad Airlines, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, when the A-League season kicks off on 29 July. This will mean they share a sponsor with their parent club Manchester City who recently purchased the team for $11m rebranding it from Melbourne Heart.
James Hogan, president and CEO of Etihad Airways, said: “Etihad Airways and the city of Melbourne have a special relationship. It’s not only one of the most popular destinations in our global network; it’s also the home of Etihad Stadium.
“Our new partnership with Melbourne City FC further strengthens our ties with this great city and, we hope, will support the Club and its army of fans in their bid to win the Hyundai A-League.”
Scott Munn, CEO of Melbourne City FC, said: “We are very excited about what we are building here at Melbourne City and this new partnership with Etihad Airways underlines our growing potential both on and off the pitch.”
In addition to Melbourne City FC, Etihad Airways’ sponsorship portfolio includes Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium, Manchester’s Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Manchester City Football Club, the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, and the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.