Emirates Airline signs new sponsorship deal with New York Cosmos
Almasalla Travel News – Emirates Airline has signed a sponsorship deal with the most famous name in US Major League Soccer – the revived New York Cosmos.
The Dubai carrier will be the shirt sponsor of the club, once world famous for its star player Pele, arguably the game’s best ever.
It is the latest football sponsorship deal for Emirates which also is the shirt sponsor of Arsenal, AC Milan, Hamburg, Paris Saint-Germain and, starting next season, Real Madrid.
With Pele looking on, the revived football team announced the deal with Emirates as it prepares to enter the second-tier North American Soccer League this summer.
The Brazilian great played for the Cosmos from 1975-77.
The relaunched team, run by CEO Seamus O’Brien, starts play at Shuart Stadium in Hempstead on Long Island on August 3 against Fort Lauderdale. The Cosmos hope to build a $400 million, 25,000-seat stadium at Belmont Park racetrack.
They enter a market that already has the Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls, who play in Harrison, New Jersey, and New York City FC, which is co-owned by Abu Dhabi’s Manchester City and the New York Yankees.
"We’ve got a few years to get our ship up and running," O’Brien said in comments published by Associated Press. "We’re not scared of competition. I think in any sport and walk of life that’s a good thing. And I think the soccer economy of this city is more than large enough to deal with three teams.”
As well as Pele, the old Cosmos side also featured greats such as Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia but the current Cosmos lack any players of note.
Source : arabianbusiness.com
