Spreadex to Sponsor Burnley FC
Premier League club Burnley FC has announced sports betting operator Spreadex as its principal shirt sponsor for the 2021/22 season. New kits are to be revealed, and will feature the Spreadex Sports logo. The multi-million-pound deal will also feature pitch-side advertising and features across the club’s social media channels.
The deal with Burnley FC is Spreadex’s first ever sports partnership.
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New Kit to Be Revealed
Burnley FC has become the latest English football club to take on a betting firm as its primary sponsor. The Lancashire based club has announced a new partnership with Spreadex Sports, a platform that offers both fixed odds and spread betting. In addition to sports betting, Spreadex also offers a separate financial trading platform.
The deal is estimated to be worth millions of pounds and will see Spreadex work closely with the Premier League club. The operator will collaborate with Burnley on an array of community projects and charitable initiatives throughout the season. It will also help to run exclusive competitions for Burnley fans.
As the principal shirt partner, players will wear kits featuring the Spreadex logo. The betting firm will feature on Burnley FC’s home, away and third shirts for its sixth consecutive Premier League campaign. A newly designed home kit for the team, known by fans as the Clarets in homage to their traditional burgundy shirts, is set to be revealed soon.
The deal also includes rights, for example LED advertising boards to go around the perimeter of the pitch and player access throughout the season. Spreadex will also be able to publicize themselves across Burnley FC’s website and its online media channels.
The deal will provide a boost for Spreadex in creating greater public trust and knowledge of its brand, as well as gaining even more new platform users than ever before. In return, Burnley FC will benefit financially from its sponsorship. The coronavirus pandemic has been one of the hardest periods ever for football clubs, as they lost out on ticket sales and were forced to postpone and cancel matches.
Innovation in Betting
Sponsorship deals with gambling firms have become extremely popular amongst British football clubs over the course of the last decade. However, that popularity is waning, as campaigners continue to raise concerns about the sheer volume of gambling ads the public is exposed to. The government’s current Gambling Act Review may even outlaw such sponsorship deals in the future.
Spreadex is different to other gambling firms though, as it is the only company in the world to offer customers both traditional sportsbook betting and sports spread betting. It also offers a financial trading platform, which lets investors trade in global shares, indices, FX, commodities and more.
The company is based in St Albans, where it employs more than 150 staff. Since its launch in 1999, the business has grown and gained a reputation for its innovation and excellent customer service. Spreadex has an array of industry awards to its name, including its most recent win for “Best Sports Spread Betting Operator” at the 2020 EGR Operator Awards.
In 2020, it was also named “Best Financial Spread Betting Provider” at the City of London Wealth Management Awards. Due its unique business model of offering both sports betting and financial trading, Spreadex is regulated by the Gambling Commission and the Financial Conduct Authority.
CEO of Spreadex, Dave MacKenzie was pleased to announce the new partnership between his company and the famous football club. MacKenzie highlighted the common values and ambitions that both parties share, and that Spreadex is looking forward to supporting Burnley both on and off the pitch. He added:
“We are delighted to join the Burnley FC family as main sponsor at an exciting time in both the club’s and our own futures. This deal reflects the ambitious growth plans Spreadex has as a company, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with a superbly-run club with such an established history and reputation.”
Fan Engagement and Charity Fundraising
As part of the new partnership, Spreadex will also be launching a number of special fan engagement activities via its digital channels. These will include ticket competitions and opportunities to win signed memorabilia, alongside further promotions. The first competition has already begun, as Spreadex will give away a pair of season tickets to celebrate the shirt sponsorship.
Burnley FC and Spreadex have also pledged to make donations to the Alzheimer’s Society with every third-choice shirt that is sold. For each shirt sold Burnley will donate £5, which Spreadex has agreed to match. Head of Commercial Partnerships at the football club, Ella Cummins said:
“We’re very proud of the pledge to donate £5 each for every third-choice shirt sold which will provide support for those affected by dementia following the devasting effects COVID has had on people up and down the country.”
Cummins added that the Alzheimer’s Society is a cause close to Burnley fans’ hearts, and that the club would continue to work with the charity on more projects to raise awareness and funds. Speaking on behalf of the club, Cummins also extended a warm welcome to its new partner.
She said that the club is already impressed by Spreadex’s commitment to supporting fan initiatives and playing an active role in the local community. Cummins added that Burnley FC is thrilled to have been chosen as Spreadex’s first sports partnership. Burnley players will wear the new home kit for the first time on July 24th, when they play a pre-season game against Oldham Athletic.
Recently Burnley FC also renewed its deal with AstroPay, making the online global payment solution the club’s official payment solutions partner and sleeve sponsor. AstroPay previously sponsored the club’s 2018/19 season. The company will feature on the Claret’s new shirts to be unveiled later this month.
