Emirates continue to back AC Milan with increased deal

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Image credit: AC Milan & Emirates

Emirates will continue to be the Official Airline Partner and a Principle Partner of AC Milan in one of the most recognisable and respected partnerships in the world of football that has successfully lasted for over 15 years.

The renowned logo of Emirates “Fly Better” will proceed to be a famed feature on the senior’s men’s team of AC Milan jerseys across the club’s season fixtures, the branding of the popular airline will also be visible on youth jerseys covering all national and international AC Milan Academies around the globe with the priority being to spread the positive values of football through the initiatives of the Club’s Academies.

In a collaboration that began in September of 2007, it continues to go from strength to strength.

AC Milan’s collaboration with the Emirates emphasises the commitments of the club to boost its physical existence in the Middle East, the particular region is a major focus area for the Rossoneri in a part of the world where football remains the most popular and played sport which the club has a support of over 2.5 million loyal fans.

AC Milan has a master plan to open a new office in Dubai, which it will serve as a site for the club to further enhance its commercial and communication strategy in the region.

President of the Emirates Airline Sir Tim Clark said via press release:

“We’ve been a committed supporter of the club for over 15 years, and as we enter the next phase of our relationship, we’re working closely with AC Milan on innovative opportunities to showcase the best of each of our brands. Our partnership with the club also complements the deep investments we have made in Italy over the last three decades, as part of our ongoing commitment to support our customers, and the businesses and communities we serve across our four Italian gateways.”

Chief Revenue Officer of AC Milan Casper Stylsvig added via press release:

“Much like Emirates, AC Milan is committed to strengthening our bond with our global audience and continuing to do so alongside a brand that is capable of connecting the world from its global centre in Dubai makes us all very proud. With this new deal, AC Milan and Emirates will be side by side for almost two decades, a testament to the strength and depth of our unique relationship.”

Emirates boasts numerous partnerships around the world, including Arsenal FC, Olympique Lyonnais, Real Madrid FC, Hamburger SV, Olympiacos FC, S.L Benfica, The Emirates FA Cup, and the Asian Football Confederation.

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FIFA has partnered with Konami to host the FIFAe World Cup

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Image credit: FIFA website

FIFA has entered into a partnership with Konami to use its eFootball game for the FIFAe World Cup.

This collaboration will feature two tournaments, one for console and one for mobile, with participants from 18 nations competing for the title of FIFAe world champion.

This move is part of FIFA’s strategy to maintain relevance in gaming and esports, particularly in engaging younger fans. FIFA has also expanded its esports portfolio with deals involving Rocket League and Football Manager.

The partnership fills the void left by EA Sports following their high-profile split with FIFA in 2022. Konami’s eFootball, an evolution of the Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) series, is currently the only comparable game to EA Sports FC on the market.

FIFA’s Chief Business Officer, Romy Gai, has championed the new deal highlighting their excitement at the prospect.

“We are incredibly excited to join forces with Konami, this collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to promote football globally and to provide a platform for players to showcase their skills.”

Konami the Japanese gaming company, this partnership provides legitimacy and increased awareness for eFootball, which has struggled to compete with EA Sports in recent years.

The collaboration is seen as a necessary step for FIFA, given the lack of alternatives and the time it would take to develop a new soccer simulation game. It allows FIFA to continue its presence in soccer-based esports while exploring other gaming opportunities.

Esports has grown massively in viewership and investment over the last decades, it has become a major part of the franchising side of football.

Even in Australia the rise in Esports popularity has coincided with the rise in football popularity, one can not argue against their connection towards football popularity.

FIFA have shown that Esports has become an ever-present strategy in their development of the game. For investors and shareholders in football, Esports impact is something that should not be disregarded.

WSL triples viewership after move to YouTube

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Image credit: Jason Ilagan / Shutterstock.com

Viewership for Women’s Super League (WSL) matches streamed live on YouTube has more than trebled during the 2024/25 season.

This success is no coincidence. Beyond the clear rise in quality and star power across teams for the 2024/25 season, it’s also the first time in league history that non-televised games are streamed for free on YouTube.

Last season, the main issue with viewership was accessibility, where matches not picked up by domestic broadcasters were only available on the FA Player app or website, requiring users to create an account on a platform that was already unpopular.

In the 2023/24 season, the highest viewership for an online-only WSL game was Arsenal’s home fixture against Bristol City, which attracted 78,050 viewers.

However, this season has already shattered records. Over 250,000 fans tuned in on YouTube to watch Leicester face Arsenal in September, setting a new high for a WSL game not televised.

In total, the first three weeks of this season have seen a staggering 1,576,848 live views for WSL matches streamed on YouTube.

Women’s Championship matches have also benefited from the platform, with the season opener between newly promoted Newcastle and London City Lionesses setting a new record for the league, drawing 46,050 live viewers.

This spike in viewership comes at a crucial time for both the WSL and the Championship, as they are holding out for a new broadcasting rights deal set to begin after 2025. Both leagues smartly delayed signing earlier this year to avoid locking into a premature agreement.

The gamble absolutely paid off and the Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL), now in charge of the top two leagues, will be using these numbers as leverage in discussions over the next major TV rights deal which should include the BBC and Sky Sports amongst other suitors.

Streaming must remain free for A-League Women’s growth 

The A-League Women’s impressively saw a 114% increase in viewership on 10 Play, where every game is streamed for free, and 125% on Paramount+ for the 2023/24 season.

While a switch to YouTube seems unlikely given Channel 10’s monopoly over A-League football, it’s crucial to keep every game available for free on 10 Play if they want viewership to continue rising.

As the WSL and previously the NWSL have demonstrated, offering free streamed games draws in viewers of all ages and ultimately helps turn them into paying fans. The league’s primary focus should be on building an audience as quickly as possible.

Conclusion

The impressive figures from this season suggest that the demand for women’s football is only increasing.

The WSL has made a brilliant move that is sure to enhance the upcoming record-breaking broadcast rights deal, helping the league continue to improve both on and off the field.

The next step is to take it mainstream, and the Ninja A-League should look to follow the blueprint set by the WSL, which has demonstrated how to rapidly gain widespread popularity.

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