Bitburger and football the perfect pair for UEFA Euro 2024

Parker Vize29/09/2023 5:55 am29/09/2023

Image credit: Victor Velter / Shutterstock.com

German beer titan Bitburger has been announced as the official beer of the UEFA Euro 2024.

The beer will be available to fans at all stadiums and fan zones when Germany hosts the prestigious tournament next year.

Bitburger is the third largest supplier of beer in Germany and is the best performing draft beer in the nation that loves the beverage so much.

Partnering with such a well-known and culturally significant brand the Euros will be hoping to bring a special flair of uniqueness to the tournament.

UEFA marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein expressed UEFA’s pleasure in welcoming a uniquely German partner to the tournament.

“UEFA is delighted to partner with Bitburger for UEFA Euro 2024, a well-recognised German beer brand with a long history and connection with football and football fans,” he said via press release.

“UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany will be extremely festive and football fans, both local and travelling, will get to enjoy a wide variety of refreshing Bitburger beers in the stadiums and fan zones while enjoying thrilling matches and making memories that will last a lifetime.”

Bitburger Brewery Group Managing Director Jan Niewodniczanski also shared their company’s joy and pride in being selected as an ambassador of German culture.

“The world is a guest in Germany – as the number one hospitality brand, we consistently live by this motto at Bitburger. As the Official Beer Partner of UEFA Euro 2024, it is exceptional for us to contribute in presenting Germany as a top host country,” he added via press release.

This deal will allow fans from all over Europe and the world to partake in something uniquely German when kick-off happens in 2024.

Not only will Bitburger help fuel a great atmosphere with its range of alcoholic beverages, but it will also supply non-alcoholic beer so all patrons no matter preference can enjoy a classic German brew as play gets under way.

Bitburger joins other classic German brands Deutsche Telekom, German railway transportation provider Deutsche Bahn, and insurance company Ergo as UEFA Euro 2024 national sponsors.

BitburgerGuy-Laurent EpsteinJan NiewodniczanskiUEFA Euro

Dandenong Thunder to enjoy $700,000 LED lighting upgrade at George Andrews Reserve

Theo Athans3 days ago06/12/2023

Image via Star Journal

Greater Dandenong Council and Dandenong Thunder have recently confirmed that works have commenced for new powerful lighting towers to be built at George Andrews Reserve.

The upgrade will cost $700,000 and is being jointly funded by Greater Dandenong Council ($500,000) and the State Government ($200,000) with a plan to improve the ground’s overall quality for both training and matches. They formerly had 200-lux LED towers and they will be replaced by 500-lux towers.

For the Greater Dandenong local council, the focus was to improve the facility for the community to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits through the increased amount of playable hours at the reserve.

Importantly, the project ensures that the Thunder have a ground that is up to professional competition and broadcast standards which means they can broadcast and host games that are viewed by a national audience, a huge step forward for the NPL Victoria club.

This broadcast upgrade also opens up the possibility to expand to national matches involving the Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City A-League women’s teams and an even more ambitious goal of hosting a Matildas game. The ground can easily hold 5000 people and the lighting and broadcasting standards will be fantastic after this upgrade.

Dandenong Thunder shared the positive implications this light upgrade has for the club.

“The new lights mean the club will be able to host a number of games, not only that but it’s a step forward to the clubs ambition to be part of the NSD (national second division),” a club spokesperson told Soccerscene.

“The support from local council has been nothing but fantastic, Dandenong want to be a sporting hub for the south east suburbs.

“With the FA cup we have seen A-League clubs play at local level clubs, having these new high powered lights we will be able to broadcast at a higher quality, no more yellow light broadcast.”

This news presents an exciting future for Dandenong Thunder and the matches played at George Andrews Reserve. The quality of training, matches and broadcasts has improved tenfold and it matches the size of the NPL Victoria side that have big ambitions.

CPKC and Kansas City Current’s major stadium naming rights deal a win for women’s sport

Nick Davis3 days ago06/12/2023

Image via CPKC

The world’s first professional female-football dedicated stadium – home of the NWSL’s Kansas City Current – will be known as CPKC Stadium, after an historic naming rights deal was agreed with the North American rail network company.

Formed as a merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern rail networks in July this year, CPKC represents the first trans-North American rail network between Canada, the United States and Mexico.

CPKC has been a leading investor for women’s sports in the state of Kansas, and CPKC President & CEO, Keith Creel, was proud to announce the stadium naming rights deal.

“We are incredibly proud to sponsor the Kansas City Current and support this history-making project here in the city that is at the heart of our North American rail network,” Creel said via press release.

“CPKC has been a long-time champion of women’s sports and of investing in our communities. This stadium and this partnership with the Current will build on that legacy as together we write a new chapter here in Kansas City.”

CPKC will also hold naming rights to the stadium’s outdoor space for fans, which will be known as CPKC Plaza. This area provides entertainment for all CPKC Stadium attendees, including the KC Current’s official merchandise store.

It is hoped that the naming rights deal will kickstart further investment in women’s football across the region, which has been the cornerstone of the KC Current’s existence according to co-founders and owners, Angie and Chris Long.

“Our [KC Current & CPKC] organisations share a commitment to strive for excellence, invest heavily in our communities and raise the bar with global influence. We are extremely excited to work with CPKC on this historic agreement and know our partnership will create a long-standing positive impact!”

Further to its substantial investment in women’s football, CPKC’s establishment of a direct line between Canada, the United States and Mexico is expected to have substantial benefits for football supporters attending the 2026 Men’s FIFA World Cup.

Presently, though, the stadium naming rights deal demonstrates CPKC’s intention to be a key investor in women’s football across Kansas and North America.