Chinese Super League Announces New Title Sponsor

The Chinese Super League have announced Ping An Insurance as their new title sponsor. 

The four-year deal beginning this year sets a record as the longest title sponsorship contract in CSL’s history, marking Ping An the first CSL title sponsor from the financial sector.

Yu Hongchen, Executive Vice Chairman of the Chinese Football Association (CFA) and Chairman of the CSL Co., said: “Ping An is a powerful company with a world-renowned brand name.  As a Fortune 500 company, Ping An employs 800,000 people in China and provides financial and insurance services to over 80 million clients. We believe a long-term partnership with Ping An will help to improve the CSL’s brand and influence. At the same time, Ping An’s sponsorship with the CSL shows its recognition of CSL’s reputation and value and its confidence in CSL’s future.”

Yu also stressed the progress CSL has made in recent years, remarking, “As the CSL becomes more compelling, more fans are paying attention to the league, creating an unprecedented opportunities for commercial exploitation. Since 2012 the CSL has been working with international and domestic sports marketing companies.  We formed a strategic partnership with the global sports, fashion and media company, IMG Worldwide and successfully secured sponsors in Carlsberg, JD.com, Samsung, and China Auto Rental (CAR). It’s clear for all to see that CSL is making positive headway.”

The CSL attracted multiple companies to vie for the title sponsorship.  Yu added, “We follow free-market mechanism to select the title sponsor. At our Shareholders Meeting, we listened to the presentations by all interested companies and all shareholders cast their votes. Ping An won the most votes.”  He continued, ” Years ago Ping An was an investor of the CSL as they owned the Shenzhen Ping An FC.  We hope in the future Ping An will continue to contribute to the CSL as well as the sports industry in China.”

Sun Jianyi, Vice Chairman and CEO of Ping An, said, “Ping An is honored to be the title sponsor of the CSL, reconnecting with Chinese football after more than a decade. Chinese football always garners tremendous public attention. 

“As CSL clubs improve their performance on the international arena, the public’s expectation of Chinese football is getting higher than ever. After ten years of development, the market and governance of football clubs are getting more and more mature. Ping An is willing to support the development of Chinese football as the title sponsor of the CSL. In addition, Ping An will also integrate its products and services with the league to create better experiences for the fans.”