Everton has today confirmed an extension to its shirt sponsorship with Chang in a deal that could be worth in excess of £16 million, meaning it has become the most expensive in the club’s history and will become the longest standing partnership in the Premier League. The deal will last for 3 years, ending in 2017. This equates to just over £5 million a year.
“Everton has enjoyed a special relationship with Chang extending now for 10 years,” said CEO Robert Elstone. “In that period, we have grown to understand one another, delivered great work, helped achieve objectives and developed a truly great partnership and, indeed a friendship, based on mutual trust, respect and affection.
“We do not take our partnership and all that we have achieved lightly. Everton is very proud of our mutual success to date.
“Chang is a business that has always provided great support, not just financially, but also as a gateway to our fans in Thailand. Over 10 years we have delivered some exciting, award-winning projects and with the same levels of creativity and commitment, I’m sure the years ahead will be as exciting off the field as they look set to be on it.
“Everton is exceptionally proud to extend its partnership with a world-class organisation, an organisation where people matter; an organisation where, like us, only the best will do. I would like to thank Khun Thapana and all our friends at Chang for supporting our team.”
Certain Evertonians took to Twitter to share their feelings of anger at the fact that Everton have renewed what was already in their eyes a poor deal. The current deal had Everton performing behind the likes of Sunderland, Fulham, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Tottenham, who again in their eyes believe that Everton should be competing with or beating in the sponsorship market. The new deal puts the Blues ahead of Sunderland, Fulham and Aston Villa before their new deals are signed in the future. [See table below]
The opposite opinion to this is the point made by Elstone in his interview with EvertonTV, admitting that it is a sellers market rather than a buyers market, and that sustained partnership will provide more worth over a period of time. A point of view on Twitter came across the fact that after the change in sponsorship at Aston Villa, they will lose £3 million since their last deal.
Again it comes down to the individual belief of the fan, whether you are one to dare or believe Everton can do better if they just take the risk, or whether you would rather stay safe and worry about ‘what could happen if we take the risk’.
I actually believe it matters quite a lot what we wear on the shirt,so am really happy that we haven’t gone down the bookie/pay day loan route.If we are to change sponsor I would prefer a quality product/service that we can fell proud of. I realize some will say an alcohol company is not a fit and proper company,particularly in light of our younger fans. And I also don’t buy into the theory about spreading the brand overseas,as I am told that replica kits are unavailable in the brewers country and surrounding areas.I do think that the design and all round feel of Chang as a sponsor is right for the club. So until one of the big financial giants comes in and pays us a kings ransom I think we are doing OK.