Besiktas and Vodafone Negotiate Largest Ever Sports Sponsorship Deal in Turkey

Turkish football club Besiktas have signed a $145m deal with Vodafone which includes the shirt sponsorship and naming rights of the club’s new stadium.

The deal marks the largest ever sports sponsorship agreement in Turkish history and is a massive boost to Besiktas who have debts of around €100m ($134m).

Besiktas’ new stadium will be ready in 2014 and will now be named the Vodafone Arena.

A club statement read: “Our company and Vodafone have reached a sponsorship agreement for $29 million which will see Vodafone advertised on the front of the shirt for 3+2 years.

“Also Beşiktaş Gymnastic club have signed a stadium deal encompassing advertising, stadium naming rights and stadium technology infrastructure investment rights for 10+5 years’ worth $116 million.”

Vodafone Turkey CEO Gökhan Öğüt added: “This is not only Vodafone Turkey’s biggest deal, but also the biggest sponsorship deal in Turkish sports history.”

The new stadium will seat 42,000 fans and is set to be built on the location of the current ground and some ancient ruins which are currently being demolished to facilitate the new project.

Vodafone Arena will be a ‘smart stadium’ with Wi-Fi and StadiumVision.