Genting has become the latest firm to enter the world of Premier League football sponsorship after signing a deal with Aston Villa. The company’s logo will be emblazoned across the front of both home and away strips for the entirety of the next two seasons (2011/12 and 2012/13). It’s the second time that Villa has entered into a sponsorship deal with a gambling firm after in the past they had an agreement in place with 32Red.
Upon signing the deal, Peter Brooks, Executive Deputy Chairman of Genting, said, “We are delighted to be partnering with a football club with such an esteemed heritage as Aston Villa. The English Premier League is the pre-eminent football league with a vast international following – while Genting is a leading leisure and hospitality group also with a huge international presence.
“Importantly, we have been associated with Birmingham since the 1970s and look forward to strengthening our relationship with this great city. So this sponsorship is a natural fit and marks an important milestone in Genting’s development as we continue to expand our presence both within the UK and internationally.”
Paul Faulkner, Chief Executive of Aston Villa, added: “We are pleased and excited to be partnering with Genting and we are looking forward to benefiting from their position as a leading international corporation in the leisure and hospitality industry.
The deal comes after Bodog dipped its foot in the pond with their sponsorship of playoff winning Scottish side Ayr United. That spawned videos and all sorts praising Calvin Ayre. It’s not everyday your Facebook friends list is swelled by lager-swilling Scots is it?
