Three Extends Irish Football Sponsorship

May 28, 2013

Three has renewed its partnership with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and the Republic of Ireland’s national football team to 2016.

The mobile phone network will remain as the national team’s primary sponsor and receive exclusive branding on training and match kit, as well as ticket branding and pitchside advertising at Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

The deal is worth €4 million ($5.16m), in addition the the four-year, €7.8m ($10m) deal agreed upon between 3 and the FAI in 2010.  

Robert Finnegan, Three chief executive, said: “We at Three have built a very positive and mutually beneficial partnership with the FAI and the footballing public in Ireland since 2010 and we’re delighted to continue this until 2016.  The fans are at the heart of Three’s sponsorship strategy, evident through the range of exciting offers already in place, with lots more planned over the coming years.

“While the sponsorship centres around the national team, Three will also continue its support of grassroots football in Ireland. To date, in addition to the value of the sponsorship fee, FAI affiliated clubs up and down the country have earned over €500,000 by switching to Three through our Three Club Offer. This initiative has been a huge success and we look forward to continuing our support of grassroots football as part of our extended deal.”

FAI chief executive John Delaney added: “I would like to thank Robert Finnegan and all of his team at Three who have been fantastic partners for the FAI over the past three years. I thank them in particular for taking a broad approach to our partnership by working closely with the grassroots, which has made this an exceptional primary sponsorship for Irish Football.”