The global sports industry is a very big business. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) alone brings in billions of dollars every year, and it’s not just about the opportunity for athletes to compete; it’s also about sponsorship deals between major companies and sports federations. Sponsorship has become more important than ever because of the proliferation of social media, allowing brands to interact directly with their customers through content, promotions, contests, and more.
And the reach of social media and the internet knows no boundaries. You can look at any industry, for example, financial markets, and see its influence where the two have allowed for the rise of trading platforms where users can create social investing communities and share trading/investing strategies for the benefit of everyone.
Without much digressing, let us see some of the top car sponsorship deals that have taken place in sports over the years.
Hyundai, Kia And FIFA
Hyundai and Kia sponsor the World Cup, the EPL (English Premier League), and even the Olympics. They’re also sponsors of FIFA.
Hyundai has been an official partner of FIFA since 1994, when it became part of their tournament sponsorship program. Hyundai has been an integral part of the organization ever since; they’ve donated more than $1 billion to youth development programs worldwide through their “Fuel for Life” initiative, which focuses on education, health care, and community empowerment projects in Africa and Asia.
The deal with Kia was finalized in 2007 and will last until this year’s end. Under this pact, both companies have worked together on all levels, including advertising campaigns and product design elements like logos or graphics used throughout stadiums during games played at each venue where either company holds rights over such usage.
General Motors (GM) Chevrolet And Manchester United FC
Manchester United FC is one of the most famous football clubs in the world, with over 1 billion supporters worldwide. It’s no surprise that GM was keen to be associated with the club because of its massive fan base and global popularity. Man United’s deal with Chevrolet is one of the biggest in the game. The deal was rumored to cost about $83 million a season and lasted from 2014 to 2021. The deal’s signing happened in 2012 as the automaker sought to gain some much-needed exposure in Europe and the UK; however, the deal’s effectiveness was limited after the car manufacturer decided to exit the EU and UK markets a year later.
Porsche To Le Mans Series
Porsche is one of the most successful car manufacturers in history, and it’s no surprise that they have a long history with motorsport. In fact, Porsche has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans a record 19 times since its inception in 1923—the most recent being back in 2016. The brand also holds an impressive record for winning American Le Mans Series championships (2007 & 2009) and the Le Mans Series (2005 & 2006).
While this may not seem like much when compared to other companies who sponsor multiple sports teams or athletes at any given time, there’s more than meets the eye here: these two endurance races are some of the best-known events on earth—and yet they’re still only part of Porsche’s portfolio. Yes indeed – all told, there are over 100 different race series worldwide where you can find your favorite vehicles racing tirelessly against others.
Suzuki To The Australian Open
Suzuki is sponsoring the Australian Open tennis tournament, and they are the official vehicle of this event. In fact, Suzuki has been sponsoring this event since 2015. The company is famous for its cars and motorcycles, but they also make other products like bicycles and scooters.
This sponsorship is a great way for Suzuki to keep up with their competitors in the automotive industry. It’s also a good deal for sports fans and technology fans as they get access to top-quality events at discounted prices.
Plenty of major deals have taken place involving car manufacturers and top sporting teams/organizations. This is by no means an exhaustive list. This piece sought to highlight a few deals that have stood out over the years and show how alluring sports can be to advertisers.
