Middlesbrough FC fans shirts to be sponsor logo free

Fri 9th Jul 2010 | Football Sponsorship

Middlesbroough have confirmed that the club's new-look replica shirts, due to be unveiled next Tuesday, will be available for fans to buy without a sponsor's logo.

Middlesbrough are now offering front of shirt sponsorship packages on a unique monthly basis for the 2010-11 season after the Championship club turned down several seasonal offers that did not meets their expectations,

It is expected this innovative approach will not only make shirt sponsorship accessible to more brands, but will allow the club's supporters to purchase replica home and away shirt without a sponsor's logo.

Fans will also have the option of having the logo of the club's monthly sponsor added to their shirt.

Chief operating officer Neil Bausor said: "Our official replica shirt, which will be available to pre-order next week online and from the MFC official stores, will not bear a sponsor's name.

"We will, of course, happily add the logo of our monthly sponsors to shirts purchased by fans if so desired, but the standard Middlesbrough shirt will carry only the club badge and the logo of adidas, our official kit suppliers."

It is anticipate that this exciting opportunity will draw a significant interest and all interested parties are asked to contact the club's commercial team on 0844 499 6789.

Middlesbrough are believed to be the first club in world football to offer access to its most high-profile rights package on a monthly basis.

This innovative approach, called Tailored for You, will allow companies to promote themselves to target audiences directly during specific campaign periods.

The club are also confident that it will bring fresh interest to the club from local, national and international companies who acknowledge the undoubted value of sports sponsorship but are reluctant to commit the financial sums required for seasonal sponsorship deals.

Neil added: "We have been fortunate at Middlesbrough Football Club to have attracted and worked with a fantastic array of successful, diverse and ambitious companies in our recent past.

"For some months now we have also been proactively engaged with numerous organisations for the club's front of shirt sponsorship rights from the start of the new season.

"Those conversations have ultimately not progressed to a satisfactory conclusion for us, and whilst it is important to recognise we are in a turbulent economic climate, I must also protect the best interests of the club commercially."

The Tailored For You… concept will allow companies to work with the club in creating a grant of sponsorship rights - including their logo appearing on Boro's home and away shirts - that are tailored exactly to their needs and will be made available over the 10 consecutive months of the football season (August 2010 - May 2011).

Matt Smith, Head of Commercial Partnerships, will lead the sales process for the new sponsorship package.

He said: "We're all genuinely excited in taking this new approach to the market. Sponsorship in football is long established now but this will definitely offer something different.

"It is easy for companies to recognise the immediate value this package can bring from a brand awareness position but what we are really keen to develop is the bespoke aspect.

"For the first time we'll offer an exclusive group of companies an opportunity to become an integral part of the club; we'll get them close to the action, the players and all the excitement that football offers.

"This is a chance to play a high-profile part in Boro's history by being involved in the club's forthcoming promotion push."

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