Chelsea continue to be at the forefront of brand and marketing in the Premier League after announcing that they will have a sleeve sponsor this season.
Football is a business these days. We are all too well aware of that. In order to fund the eye-watering transfers fees for the likes of Alvaro Morata and Tiemoue Bakayoko, Chelsea need to exhaust every possible commercial channel. Bearing that in mind, the Blues have become the first major club to announce a shirt sleeve sponsor for this season.
The Premier League have allowed two sponsorships per shirt from this season forwards. Chelsea have jumped at the opportunity for their players to look increasingly like walking billboards.
You'll see a new logo on Chelsea shirt sleeves this season, starting today... #CFCTourhttps://t.co/CjsKDZOkog
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 22, 2017
Having previously allowed for one logo, the league is now caving to commercial pressure. Those who follow cricket and watch competitions like the Indian Premier League or the Big Bash will be used to kits plastered with brands. Now, football is heading down that route.
Frankly, there is little reason to complain. With the attention that the Premier League receives, there is incredible exposure available to sponsors. Adding logos doesn’t affect the product on the pitch, so Chelsea have welcomed the change with open arms.
How this will affect the club’s finances is unclear, though. Alliance Tyres are a subsidiary of current sponsor, Yokohama Tyres. Hence, the current deal may already account for the sponsorship.
Nevertheless, Chelsea have been of the forefront of branding and marketing matters in recent years and this announcement is another example of that.
Next: £50MM for Nemanja Matic would crown Chelsea’s run of high-profit sales
What do you think of it? Are you a football purist? Or do you really not care? Let us know your thoughts on all things corporate in the comments below!