Etihad Airways has announced it will sponsor the new Melbourne City Football Club in the Hyundai A-League for the forthcoming season which kicks off on July 29.
Formerly called Melbourne Heart, the five-year sponsorship deal between Melbourne City and Etihad includes jersey naming rights as well as joint initiatives to develop junior football schools, and competitions and promotional airfares for club fans.
“Etihad Airways and the City of Melbourne have a special relationship. It’s not only one of the most popular destinations in our global network, it’s also the home of Etihad Stadium, Melbourne’s premier sports and entertainment precinct,” President and CEO of Etihad, James Hogan said in a statement. “Our new partnership with Melbourne City FC further strengthens our ties with this great city and, we hope, will support the Club and its army of fans in their bid to win the Hyundai A-League. It’s also a valuable addition to our portfolio of sporting partnerships which includes Barclays Premier League champions, Manchester City FC, and their home ground at Etihad Stadium in Manchester.”