Licensing workshop for Soccerex 08
4 November 2008
As part of the new industry-focused approach for Soccerex 2008, the inaugural International Football Club Summit (IFCS) will feature essential panels dedicated to licensing and sponsorship.
Soccerex, the world's biggest business-to-business soccer convention, takes place at Johannesburg's Sandton Convention Centre from 23 to 26 November.
Soccerex announced on Tuesday that the final two of six IFCS workshops taking place at Soccerex will feature industry experts discussing and sharing their knowledge on two of the key revenue streams of any sport.
Licensing is a key revenue stream for clubs of all sizes, and the IFCS licensing workshop will look at the different ways in which rights holders can reach their markets both at home and abroad.
The in-depth session will feature senior representatives from Global Brands, Superleague Formula and Italian football club AC Milan.
Official licensed products
Global Brands CEO and co-chairman Mark Matheny will discuss his company's appointment as Fifa's exclusive licensing representative to create a range of Fifa official licensed products, as well as on-site concessionaire for all Fifa events throughout this 8-year term.
Superleague Formula president Alex Andreu will examine partnership opportunities between football and the world of motor racing.
AC Milan commercial and marketing vice-director Laura Masi will impart her knowledge on how a club can ensure its brand is successfully marketed domestically as well as globally.
Sponsorships
The IFCS sponsorship workshop will focus on sponsorship deals from both sides of the fence – how clubs can find a sponsor that will work for them, and the ways in which sponsors can leverage their involvement with rights holders.
This session will bring together leading decision-makers from Wasserman Media Group, Motorola, Gulf Air, QPR and Navyblue.
Jeff Slack, executive vice of marketing in Europe for the Wasserman Media Group, a leading sports management and marketing company, will discuss the potential for sponsorship within the football industry.
Motorola global marketing communications vice president Jeremy Dale will examine player sponsorship opportunities, with particular focus on Motorola's sponsorship deal with English soccer star David Beckham.
Gulf Air sponsorship manager Jon Barnett and QPR deputy MD Ali Russell will examine their recent sponsorship deal, and provide advice for clubs and sponsors on forming a mutually-beneficial partnership.
This session will feature a key note address by Ron Cregan, director of brand consultants Navyblue, on the importance of brands in attracting sponsorship.
Maximising revenue
The two 90-minute workshops will present an extraordinary opportunity for any football club wishing to maximise revenue from Licensing and Sponsorship deals, as well as for suppliers to speak directly with clubs' key decision makers.
The licensing and sponsorship workshops are just two of six IFCS workshops that will focus on the key revenue streams available to football clubs such as player development, stadia, law & finance, media, licensing and sponsorship.
Source: BuaNews
