Polish Ekstraklasa backed by Stihl to support the league

Avatar
Stihl and Ekstraklasa
Image credit: Peter Kniez / Shutterstock.com

Stihl has announced that they will be renewing their agreement with the Polish Ekstraklasa to continue for a fifth straight year, this time becoming an official partner of the league.

Stihl will be utilising this agreement to support the development of grassroots club football in Poland as well as introduce a series of official Ekstraklasa products for sale in a bid to engage with the fans a lot more due to their upgraded partner status.

Since its foundation more than 90 years ago, Stihl has grown from a one-man business into a global chainsaw and outdoor power equipment manufacturer.

Stihl is represented in more than 160 countries now and has a large European base in particular, making it extremely recognisable to the fans of Ekstraklasa.

Tomasz Cichoński, President of the Management Board of Andreas Stihl, discussed how this partnership benefits them.

“Cooperation with Ekstraklasa is an important step in the development of our brand on the Polish market. We have been involved in sport for years, but now we want to join the emotions accompanying this most popular discipline among Poles and act for its development. Cichonski said via press release.

“Football is particularly close to us, because it is our products that facilitate the perfect preparation of green areas for practicing this sport and improving football skill.”

Marcin Animucki, President of the Management Board of Ekstraklasa SA discussed what the goal was with this cooperation with Stihl.

“We are happy to welcome the Stihl brand among the official partners of Ekstraklasa games. We are glad that such a recognized international company has decided to become involved in football competitions and take advantage of the promotion opportunities in our league,” he added via media release.

“We hope that thanks to this cooperation, we will inspire people to become interested in Ekstraklasa and support them at stadiums.”

As a result of the agreement between Ekstraklasa SA and Stihl Polska, official products with the Ekstraklasa logo – including lawnmowers – will appear in over 800 points of sale throughout the country. The Stihl logo will be displayed in stadiums during matches, TV broadcasts and on the official website and social media channels.

The partnership has a clear goal to improve grassroots Polish football and use a recognisable brand to further market the Ekstraklasa across Europe.

Previous ArticleNext Article

GIS Sydney continues to connect students with Australia’s sports industry

Avatar
Image Credits: Global Institute of Sport

Following the launch of its Sydney campus in 2025, the Global Institute of Sport (GIS) is continuing to establish itself in the nation’s sports industry. A leading provider of degrees and executive education in sport, GIS provides students the chance to study at two of Australia’s biggest sporting venues: Allianz Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Programs such as Sports Analytics and International Sports Business are delivered in collaboration with the University of Newcastle, and feature the chance for students to gain exclusive access to the sports industry.

More than 50 guest speakers have shared their experience with students studying at GIS Sydney, representing organisations like FIFA, Red Bull, Cricket Australia, and the AFL. While learning about the regional and national sports industry in the classroom, students have also had the chance to gain an international perspective through GIS’ signature Global Sports Summits, which have given Sydney students access to iconic sporting venues around the world from London to Miami.

Outside of the iconic venues students can call their classrooms, the organisation prioritises the real, industry placements needed to put theory into practice by providing each student with 140 hours of relevant work experience throughout their studies. Included in this are several sporting organisations who are keen to welcome GIS students on board, including the Professional Football Scouts Association (PFSA), Football Coaches Australia, and Basketball NSW.

GIS also has a partnership with popular network and app Yakka Sport to connect students with paid employment opportunities while they study.

Behind these advancements at the GIS Sydney campus is an Industry Advisory Board which features a host of experienced figures from the world of sport. Included in the Asia-Pacific branch is Chair James Rosengarten, GM of the Melbourne Renegades; Kevin Jang, Managing Director of CAA Stellar Korea; and Brad Lloyd, GM of the Carlton Football Club.

Since launching, GIS’ Sydney campus has ultimately combined its locations and industry connections to provide the next generation of sports professionals with the knowledge, network, and confidence to tackle the rapidly evolving sports industry.

Melbourne Victory partners with The Pass to expand fan experience

Avatar
Image Credit: Australian Professional Leagues

Melbourne Victory has added The Pass to its commercial portfolio, with the partnership designed to give supporters more ways to follow the club away from matchday.

The Pass becomes an ‘Associate Partner’ of Victory, while Hickens Hotel has been named the club’s ‘Official Away Game Venue Partner’. The arrangement will see the Russell Street venue host Victory watch parties and provide a dedicated gathering point for supporters during away fixtures.

The partnership also gives Victory supporters access to The Pass’ broader network of more than 200 venues around Australia, extending the relationship beyond a single location.

For Melbourne Victory, the deal forms part of a wider approach to creating commercial partnerships around the supporter experience rather than limiting sponsorship to traditional branding opportunities.

Hickens Hotel will host Victory fans for selected away matches, while The Pass will provide members with access to offers and experiences through its venue network.

The agreement also connects with Victory’s broader business community, with The Pass joining the club’s commercial network and creating potential opportunities for corporate engagement alongside its consumer-facing activity.

The partnership comes ahead of the 2026/27 A-League Men and Ninja A-League Women seasons, with Victory continuing to develop its commercial offering around both its membership base and matchday audience.

For The Pass, football provides a way to bring its network of hospitality venues into the supporter experience, giving fans a physical destination to watch matches when Victory is playing on the road.

The agreement reflects a broader trend across professional football, with clubs increasingly looking to partnerships that can provide tangible benefits to supporters while creating additional opportunities for commercial partners.

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend