Sportfive pens deal with Saint-Etienne

French Ligue 1 football side Saint-Etienne has signed a long-term commercial partnership deal with sports marketing agency Sportfive, it has been announced.

Sportfive has been handed the responsibility of sponsorship and marketing activities, public relations and media support.

Sportfive will also be assisting the club in maximising the commercial possibilities in relation to the proposed development of the side’s stadium, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. Plans for redevelopment were approved a year ago, with the stadium due to be expanded from a capacity of 35,000 to 41,000, in time for the 2016 European Championships.

Sportfive director general, Christophe Bouchet, said: “This new partnership with the club will build on the strategy that has been in place since 2007. Sportfive will accompany Saint-Etienne in the renovation of Geoffroy-Guichard and it will benefit from our years of experience in this field.”

President of the club’s administrative council, Bernard Caiazo, added: “Saint-Etienne is very honoured to link up with Sportfive to continue to develop our commercial activity and we are happy to have, on top of this, an expert in exploiting (the commercial possibilities of) stadia, with reference to the impending transformation of Geoffroy-Guichard.”