Asian sportsbetting stalwarts 12Bet have signed on as shirt sponsor of Barclays Premier League football club Wigan Athletic. The deal, said to be the most lucrative in Wigan’s history, will run two years with an option for a third. Wigan Athletic marketing chief Neil Ryan remarked that “to have secured such a substantial fee from a high profile brand like 12Bet demonstrates clearly where the club is going and we are looking forward to working with them to achieve our collective objectives.” 12Bet CEO Rory Anderson was equally delighted to have secured a deal “that will give us great exposure both in the UK and globally, providing the perfect platform to promote our core proposition: in play football betting.” 12Bet recently declined to renew a similar deal with Spanish side Sevilla, so this Wigan deal puts them squarely back where they want to be: visible on televisions across Asia.
On a different runway in our Premier League fashion show, Bodog Europe’s deal with West Bromwich Albion FC took on tangible form with the unveiling of the Baggies’ new kit. Bodog Europe marketing manager Mike Bohan and Bodog Brand PR Director Ed Pownall were on hand for the event, as were club manager Roy Hodgson and his summer signings Gareth McAuley and Billy Jones. Along with Zoltan Gera (once his wonky ankle heals), Hodgson hopes to add ‘two or three’ more players to the WBA roster this year, including a quality keeper. The Baggies kick off the new season against Man U, and Northern Ireland international McAuley is looking forward to squaring off against Wayne Rooney’s new £10k hair transplant. The new home jerseys will be available via the WBA website from July 15, with the away kit coming July 29, but are already apparel maker Addidas’ fastest selling pre-sale in recent years.
