Etihad Airways becomes Melbourne City Football Club’s new principal partner

• Five-year sponsorship agreement announced with Hyundai A-League club
• Etihad Airways branding to feature on the front of home and away team kit
• Joint initiatives to include children’s football schools and fan competitions

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 2014-7-9 — /Travel PR News/ — Melbourne City Football Club has announced Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, as its new principal partner.

The five-year deal and new team kit were unveiled today by Scott Munn, Chief Executive Officer of Melbourne City FC, and James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, at the football club’s AAMI Park home stadium.

James Hogan said: “Etihad Airways and the City of Melbourne have a special relationship. It’s not only one of the most popular destinations in our global network, it’s also the home of Etihad Stadium, Melbourne’s premier sports and entertainment precinct.

“Our new partnership with Melbourne City FC further strengthens our ties with this great city and, we hope, will support the Club and its army of fans in their bid to win the Hyundai A-League.

“It’s also a valuable addition to our portfolio of sporting partnerships which includes Barclays Premier League champions, Manchester City FC, and their home ground at Etihad Stadium in Manchester.”

Scott Munn said: “We are very excited about what we are building here at Melbourne City and this new partnership with Etihad Airways underlines our growing potential both on and off the pitch.”

In addition to the branding opportunities, Mr Hogan and Mr Munn also spoke of the broader initiatives that Etihad Airways and Melbourne City FC will work on together which include football schools for children, regular fan competitions, and promotional airfares for Club members and fans.

The Melbourne City squad and management team will fly with Etihad Airways, via Abu Dhabi, for the club’s pre-season tour of England departing from Melbourne tonight (Monday 7 July).

The Hyundai A-League is run by Football Federation Australia (FFA) and was established in 2004 with the first season of competition in 2005. The A-League currently consists of 10 teams and the season runs from October to May, culminating in a Grand Final.

Etihad Airways operates daily flights between its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport and Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. The airline has a First and Business Class Lounge at Sydney International Airport and will open another at Melbourne International Airport in the first half of 2015.

In addition to Melbourne City FC, Etihad Airways’ sponsorship portfolio includes Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium, Manchester’s Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Manchester City Football Club, the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, and the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Etihad Airways was voted World’s Leading Airline at the World Travel Awards in 2013.

– Ends –

Notes: To watch the news conference click here.

About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways began operations in 2003, and in 2013 carried 11.5 million passengers. From its Abu Dhabi base Etihad Airways flies to 103 existing or announced passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. The airline has a fleet of 102 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and more than 220 aircraft on firm order, including 71 Boeing 787s, 25 Boeing 777-X, 62 Airbus A350s and 10 Airbus A380s. Etihad Airways holds equity investments in airberlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia, Aer Lingus, Air Serbia and Jet Airways, and is in the process of formalising its equity investment in Swiss-based Etihad Regional*. For more information, please visit: www.etihad.com

 

*Operated by Darwin Airline

About Melbourne City Football Club
Melbourne City Football Club is a professional football club that competes in the major Australian domestic competition, the Hyundai A-League. The Club was formerly known as Melbourne Heart FC. Melbourne City FC is owned by a consortium involving the City Football Group (80%), which also owns English Premier League club Manchester City FC and Major League Soccer club New York City FC, and the ownership group of Australian National Rugby League side the Melbourne Storm (20%). Based at La Trobe University, Melbourne City FC’s home ground is AAMI Park in Melbourne, Australia.

 

For more information:
Melbourne City Football Club
Head of Communications
Julius Ross
Email: julius.ross@melbournecityfc.com.au
Mobile: 0400 731 427

 

Etihad Airways Corporate Communications
Stephen Mahoney
Email: smahoney@etihad.ae
Mobile: 0488 125 538

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