Under the three-year deal, BK8 branding will appear on the front of players’ shirts through to the end of the 2025-26 season.
BK8 will invest in a series of brand activations and benefit from advertising opportunities including assets at the team’s Villa Park home. These assets will be given to charitable organisations to display promotional messages.
The deal also includes another charitable element, whereby BK8 will make a contribution per adult third shirt sold to a local charity.
“Being able to give something back to the supporters for their dedication is a hugely significant part of the reason we want to be involved with a prestigious institution,” BK8 EMEA managing director Michael Gatt said.
“As a brand working in football for the last few years, we have committed to working closely with our partners’ local community initiatives and ensure we continue our commitment to delivering on our ambitions in this area.
“We will work tirelessly to make an impact in this area with a number of programs across the region that engage with supporters locally and on a global scale.”
An Aston Villa spokesperson added: “We look forward to exciting collaborations together that will help to grow both brands, particularly within Southeast Asia.”
Shirt sponsorship ban
The deal comes despite Premier League clubs in April collectively agreeing to halt gambling sponsorship on the front of matchday shirts.
The withdrawal of shirt gambling sponsorship will come into effect from the end of the 2025-26 season, meaning deals with operators can stay in place until that date.
Villa’s new deal with BK8 will conclude at the same time as when the ban is due to kick in.
The Premier League also said it would look at working with other sports on a new code for responsible gambling sponsorship across the professional sports sector.
Earlier this month, Newcastle United downgraded its deal with offshore gaming operator Fun88.
Fun88 served as the team’s principal partner since the 2017-18 season but will now focus on efforts to drive the club’s growth in Asia.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/marketing-affiliates/aston-villa-scores-shirt-sponsorship-deal-with-bk8/
