Asia Sponsorship News Reports That Football Sponsorships Are Valued 3x More Than Any Other Sport

 

Manila, Philippines - The 2nd edition of “The Business of Football” Conference, organized by

MMC Sports and sanctioned by the Philippine Football Federation, concluded successfully on 10

November 2023, at Raffles Makati. The one-day conference brought together key stakeholders

from the Southeast Asian football community, fostering dialogue on critical topics shaping the

future of the sport.

The event aimed to stimulate discussions and transfer knowledge on topics such as Asian football

sponsorship & investment trends, the use of blockchain to develop community building and fan

engagement, the Impact of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup on Southeast Asian Football, as

well as lessons learned from FIBA World Cup hosting experiences in the Philippines.

More than +30 regional and international speakers, including experts from governing bodies and

rights holders from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, the UK, United Arab

Emirates, New Zealand, Australia, Geneva shared insights and perspectives on the challenges and

opportunities in the football industry, while the Philippines was represented through officials of

government entities such as the German, New Zealand, Spanish, and British embassies, the

Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee, Games & Amusements Board,

Philippines Football League, representatives from the respective men’s and women’s national

teams, Philippines Basketball Association as well as the Philippine Football Federation.

Asia Trends in Sponsorship and Investment in Football

According to Asia Sponsorship News, football is unequivocally the most valuable platform in Asia,

constituting nearly 31% of all sports sponsorship sales in 2022. The platform's value was almost

2.5 times that of its closest competitor, the 'Olympics,' with a remarkable +21% increase over the

four-year football average. Football, topping the charts at $1.6 billion, dwarfed the Olympics at

only one-third of that, with $639 million, and Cricket trailing at $529 million. This data

underscores the unparalleled dominance of football over other sports sponsorship platforms in

the region.

The Role of Sport in Building Bridges in Governmental Relationships

In a poignant exploration of the transformative power of sports as a catalyst for unity and

reconciliation, the panel on 'The Role of Sport in Building Bridges in Governmental Relationships'

features government officials from the German, New Zealand, and British Embassies.

 

"Sports (football), in my view, is something that should unite people; that should unite countries.

It should serve as a tool for reconciliation. Global sports should bring people together regardless

of the color of their skin, regardless of age, even regardless of sex, so everybody can play football."

- HE Dr. Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke, German Ambassador to the Philippines.

"Sport is a fantastic platform for building connections between governments, countries, societies,

and communities." - HE Peter Kell, New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines

 

Addressing the Urgency for Adequate Sports Facilities Funding

During a short interview with Mr. Richard Bachmann, Chairman of the Philippine Sports

Commission, he articulated a pressing concern regarding the funding of sports facilities: the

deficiency in funding is not exclusive to football but extends across all sports. He also

acknowledged that the country is currently lagging in providing the necessary financial support

for sports infrastructure. His commitment is to rectify this shortfall and to collaborate with

National Sports Associations (NSAs) to expedite the process of securing such funding. Looking

forward, Bachmann disclosed of having requested a substantial budget allocation that aims to

address the critical need for facility improvements across various sports, including football,

underlining the need for development of sports at all levels at every local government unit.

Monetizing the Fan Experience through the Power of Blockchain & Web3

'Monetizing the Fan Experience through the Power of Blockchain & Web3, presented by Mr.

Samir Ceric, Chief Operating Officer of Blocksport, unveiled an innovative and holistic solution to

bridge the gap from Web2 to Web3 in the world of sports. Providing a glimpse into the

transformative potential of this cutting-edge technology, he emphasized the importance of a

solid foundation and community-building exercise, where Web3 technology enables a deeper

connection with fans and the creation of substantial new revenues for sporting properties

globally.

Obstacles in Sustainability in Professional Club & League Football

The panel discussion of 'Obstacles in Sustainability in Professional Club & League Football,'

provided profound insights into the challenges faced on both the buy and sell sides with brands

and clubs. Mr. Paul Poole, Founder & Managing Director of Paul Poole (South-East Asia) Co., Ltd.

The Sponsorship Experts, commented on the intricate dynamics surrounding the commercial

rights of football clubs and the struggles they face as they often don’t understand the value of

their assets while also not using agencies to package and ell the rights.

 

Awards and Recognitions:

The conference also honored individuals and organizations for their significant contributions to

the football community. Notable awardees included:

 

• Token of Appreciation: His Excellency Dr. Andreas Pfaffernoschke for his support and

contribution to The Business of Football 2023 Conference.

• Token of Appreciation: Mr. Jefferson G Cheng, Team Manager of the Philippines Women's

National Football Team, for his dedication and contributions to the development of Women’s

Football in the Philippines & Asia.

• Token of Congratulations: Philippine Football Federation for its inaugural participation in

the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023.

• Token of Congratulations: New Zealand Football & Football Australia respectively for the

successful hosting of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

• Token of Congratulations: Malaysia Football League for the successful implementation of

its digital transformation process.

“The Business of Football” conference aims to become an annual event in the Philippines “as

regular football discussions and knowledge transfer are essential elements for the development

of the sport. And since not everyone can travel around the region, we will bring the football

industry to the Philippines stakeholders”, explains Eric M. Gottschalk, CEO of MMC Sportz Asia

explains the future plans of the conference. “We might add more local elements to the event and

conceptualize proper football awards to become the highlight of the Conference.”

MMC Sportz extends its appreciation to its partners – LALIGA, BLOCKSPORT, Capital Block, ASN,

and Raffles Makati – for their extended support in making the conference a resounding success.

The event's official hashtag, #BOFPH2023, continues to be a platform for sharing insights and

engaging discussions on social media.

Stay tuned for updates on future events and initiatives from MMC Sportz.

BUNDESLIGA: Virtual Bundesliga International Series kicks off in Spring 2020

The Bundesliga is taking the next step in expanding its eFootball tournaments across the world as it launches the Virtual Bundesliga (VBL) International Series 2020. As part of the competition online and offline tournaments will take place in multiple countries as they aim to identify the top players from Asia and the Americas.

The finalists will win a unique trip to Germany for a once in a lifetime experience to compete in the VBL International Final. They will be given the opportunity to meet professional Bundesliga and professional VBL players, visit some Bundesliga clubs and experience the most exciting football league in the world, live.

The VBL International Series will kick-off with Regional Qualifiers hosted in several countries including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Brunei, the Philippines, Cambodia, Singapore, East Timor and Vietnam in Asia, as well as Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, the USA and Canada in the Americas region.

In the second stage of the competition, the top performers from each Regional Online Qualifier will then represent their region at the VBL Continental Qualifiers in April 2020. These will be run as offline events – with one tournament taking place in Asia and one for the Americas respectively.

Those playing in the VBL Continental Qualifiers will be kitted out in official Bundesliga club jerseys. In line with the spirit of the competition, they will represent the respective club throughout the remaining period of the competition into the VBL International Final, which will take place in Germany in May 2020.

To organise all VBL International Series Regional Qualifiers, the Bundesliga is partnering with Battlefy. Battlefy is a well-known platform in the global FIFA eSports scene, ideal for coordinating the high number of participants and creating a spectacular experience across 21 countries.

The VBL International Series is a separate competition to Germany’s Virtual Bundesliga. As the first football league in the world to launch an eFootball tournament back in 2012, the VBL now incorporates the German VBL Open, VBL Club Championship and the VBL Grand Final, which is an Official Licensed Qualifier and awards points as part of the FIFA 20 Global Series ecosystem. The VBL has an impressive track record of over 100,000 participating online gamers every season.

Robert Klein, Bundesliga International CEO, said: “Nobody does eFootball like the Bundesliga. Whilst the last seven years have already been amazing, the last three years have really seen the VBL grow internationally with big tournaments in Chile, Malaysia or India. In season 2018/19 the VBL International Series Qualifier included participants from 12 countries, over 10 hours of Virtual Bundesliga action broadcasted across Asia and over 150.000 viewers. The VBL International Final was covered live by 6 Bundesliga broadcasting partners in over 10 countries. Together with professional teams and fan driven competitions, alongside our gaming partner EA Sports, we have brought something new and fun to the table, something bigger and better than before – ‘eFootball As It's Meant To Be’!”

Andreas Heyden, Executive Vice President, Digital Innovations at DFL Group, added: “Combining the online and offline world of football, the VBL International Series merges the passions of a new generation of gamers and Bundesliga fans around the world. This competition is yet another milestone in the Bundesliga’s success story of establishing a leading global eSports competition, an asset that further confirms the Bundesliga’s reputation as football’s innovation leader.”


About the VBL
As a pioneer in Europe, the Virtual Bundesliga was launched 2012-13 as the first eSport competition of a professional football league. Through the innovative game mode, only clubs and license players of the Bundesliga are represented and used by the participants. The VBL Open with over 100.000 participating online gamers every year and the VBL Club Championship with 22 clubs of Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 competing with their professional gamers in season 2018-19 and season 2019-20, the Virtual Bundesliga is the most important eSport competition for EA Sports FIFA in Germany. The VBL Grand Final gives top performers of the online qualification the chance to compete with the clubs´ pro gamer. The annual enhancement of media coverage and the broadcast of the final tournament over multiple channels has increased the interest and reach of the competition year after year.

About the VBL International Series
In the season 2017-18 the Virtual Bundesliga has expanded its eFootball tournaments globally, launching the VBL International Series in South America and South East Asia, including participants from multiple countries. The competition was played in EA Sports FIFA and took place independently of the German Virtual Bundesliga as a distinct tournament series. All gamers played with Bundesliga teams to deliver the authentic Bundesliga experience. The 2018-19 International Series was held in South East Asia and India. The respective winners played the VBL International Final in Germany. Additionally, the International Series Champion was part of diverse Bundesliga and Virtual Bundesliga activities, including exclusive visits of professional Bundesliga clubs, training sessions and visits of Bundesliga games. As the Virtual Bundesliga grows constantly, the VBL International Series 2019-20 shall also reach the next level. Online and offline tournaments in EA Games’ FIFA in multiple countries all over the world will lead to a VBL International Final in Germany.

About the Bundesliga
The Bundesliga is the premier professional association football league in Germany and the football league with the highest average stadium attendance worldwide. The league was established in 1963 and comprises 18 teams which operate on a system of promotion and relegation with the Bundesliga 2. The Bundesliga is broadcast on television in over 200 countries and is operated by the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga.

About Battlefy
Battlefy is where amateur and professional gamers compete in eSports competitions from the world’s leading game developers, consumer brands, professional teams, and gaming communities. Battlefy is the technology platform and operating partner for over 240,000 amateur and professional eSports tournaments worldwide. With competitions across every major game title, Battlefy is where organizations and players create unforgettable experiences and define their eSports legacies.

Follow all the latest Bundesliga action on Bundesliga.com and via the official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels. More information on the VBL is available here: https://virtual.bundesliga.com/international-series

Ronaldo Nazario: "LaLiga is More Exciting than Ever, Anything Can Happen. It's Undoubtedly the Best League in the World."

Manila, 3 December 2019 – Ronaldo Nazario, president of Real Valladolid, was the most acclaimed figure present at SPIA Asia, an international congress held on 2 and 3 December in Manila and which brought together hundreds of representatives and speakers from the South Asian sports industry and other countries.

Ivan Codina, Director of LaLiga for Southeast Asia, Japan, Korea and Australia, Almudena Gomez, LaLiga Delegate for the Philippines, as well as representatives from Valencia CF, RCD Mallorca and Real Valladolid were also present at the event. It is the fifth edition of this international sports industry conference, in which representatives of leagues and federations, renowned brands, associations and athletes exchange knowledge and experiences on sports marketing, international strategy, inclusion and innovation in sport, and other matters besides.

During the press conference organized by LaLiga, Ronaldo was enthusiastic about being invited to the congress and for being in the Philippines: "We are changing many things in our club, and one of them is our international reach. We are starting to work internationally; we want to be well-known and have people fall in love with our brand." He was asked about his reason to remain connected to LaLiga and specifically to Real Valladolid: "I have history with LaLiga, I spent seven years playing in the competition. Valladolid is a very special LaLiga club, with history and a lot of potential. It's a big challenge, and I'm delighted with the decision I took. We will fight hard to stay in LaLiga Santander." Regarding LaLiga's competitiveness, the Brazilian noted that the competition is more closely-fought than ever, saying "last season was tough, I suffered, we suffer, but we succeeded, but I hope this season we enjoy ourselves more and suffer less because LaLiga is more competitive than ever, the clubs are very evenly-balanced, so it's not going to be easy. And yes, it's the best league in the world," he concluded.

"We have been working in Asia for two years and we are more than satisfied,” commented Ivan Codina, director of LaLiga in Southeast Asia regarding the strategy of the competition in the continent. “We carry this out through the three offices we have on the continent and a dozen international delegates. In these different territories we always work with the leagues and the local federations, we collaborate." LaLiga’s representative participated in a presentation on the impact and strategy of football leagues in Asia.

Representatives of the LaLiga Santander teams also participated in a panel on the international strategies of clubs in Asia last Monday. "Asia is a strategic continent for us, in fact we achieved an audience of 18 million viewers last season and we already have 1.4 million followers in Asia on our social networks," Josep Borrell, commercial strategy coordinator of Valencia CF, told attendees. As for Albert Salas, director of RCD Mallorca, he noted in his presentation that "with Kubo joining the club we have opened up even more to the international market and especially to the Asian market." The feat achieved by the club, climbing from Segunda B to LaLiga Santander, was also highlighted. He also explained the club's close relationship with the NBA, as well as the achievement of having secured two consecutive promotions.

As for David Espinar, director of the Cabinet of the Presidency of Real Valladolid, he explained to the attendees how the club had changed since the arrival of its new president, Ronaldo Nazario. "He is not only a shareholder and the president; he is a globally recognized figure who acts as our club's ambassador. We want to continue to open up to the world, get people to know our brand, but we are not looking for business partners per se, we want to make friends who fall in love with us," explained the representative of the Castille y Leon-based club. He told attendees about the club's positive experience last season in the USA and Canada and reiterated its interest in continuing to work internationally.

Once again, LaLiga's great commitment to social responsibility projects was highlighted. Almudena Gomez, Delegate of LaLiga in the Philippines, participated in a presentation on inclusion and new strategies in sponsorships and establishing projects in which she explained the LaLiga Genuine Santander project, the official competition organized by LaLiga for people with disabilities and in which 36 of its clubs participate.

This prestigious international gathering, SPIA Asia 2019, which takes place at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Manila, is part of the activities organised for the 30th edition of the South East Asian Games.

As for LaLiga's presence in Asia, it currently has three offices on the mainland (Singapore, China and India), as well as 12 delegates working permanently in the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Australia, among other territories. In addition to agreements with local sponsors and specific social networks in several Asian countries, LaLiga has also signed various agreements with local leagues and federations.

LALIGA’S REGIONAL HEAD IVAN CODINA HEADLINES AMONG TOP-NOTCH LINE-UP OF SPEAKERS AT ‘THE BUSINESS OF FOOTBALL - PHILIPPINES’ ON MAY 18 AT NEW WORLD MAKATI HOTEL

LaLiga’s top executive in Asia, Ivan Codina, will be one of the international speakers gracing the much anticipated ‘Business of Football - Philippines’, a one-day conference, sanctioned by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and organized by MMC Sportz, set to take place on Friday, May 18, 2018, at the New World Makati Hotel.

Codina, LaLiga’s Managing Director for South East Asia, Australia, Japan and South Korea, thinks that Asia is important for LaLiga,  as the Philippines is a largely untapped market, including close to 11.3 million who are interested in football, with FCB as the top supported football club, with Real Madrid coming in at close 3rd”.”

LaLiga has also appointed a full-time representative in Manila since February this year “As with our internationalization strategy, we are adopting a glo-cal approach - using our global experience to help develop the standard of football in the Philippines, and expertise to tackle any local challenges.  We seek to position ourselves as a source of entertainment for the PH fans and engage them with public viewing events and other activations to enhance the entire LaLiga Experience”, adds Codina.

Other top-notch speakers include AFC Head of MA Services Domeka Garamendi, SMG Insight Managing Director Frank Saez, The Azkals Team Manager Dan Palami, Globe Director for OIC, Citizenship and Advocacy Marketing Miguel Bermundo, Philippines Football League CEO Lazarus Xavier, Philippines Football Federation General Secretary Atty. Edwin B. Gastanes, Azkals Team Captain Phil Younghusband,  Asian Replica Designs Founder & Owner Jonathan Mallinson, Quorum Group President & COO Jose S. Claudio, Jr. and MMC Sportz CEO Eric M. Gottschalk. 

The event is organized by MMC Sportz Asia, best known for delivering the foremost annual SPIA Asia - Asia’s Sports Industry Awards & Conference (www.spiaasia.com), recognizing and celebrating Asia’s top achievers within the sports industry.

The one-day Summit will bring together all the key stakeholders of the football community in the Philippines from the rights holders, football clubs, agencies, brands, media, retail, real estate, and of course, the fans.  The overall objective is to educate and to discuss the current state of football in the Philippines, with the goal of being able to determine the strategy to make it the biggest spectator sport in the country. 

“Looking at the line-up of high profile speakers and the topics on the agenda, “football” is already a clear winner.” States Eric M. Gottschalk, CEO of MMC Sportz. “We are excited about the opportunity to bringing the football community together as a key pillar of development is knowledge sharing and knowledge transfer and that’s the main objective of the event.” 

The conference will cover topics such as ‘State of Football in the Philippines’, ‘LaLiga’s Football Development Strategy in South East Asia and Philippines’, ‘The PFL Franchise System’, ‘Why Brands Should Get Involved – Sponsorship Opportunities in Football’ , ‘Asian Cup 2019 -What’s next for the Azkals’, ‘Asian Fan Index – Digital Football Consumption’, ‘Youth Football Development & Academies’, ‘Sports Retail Dimension in the Philippines, ‘The Role of Media in Football Development’, ‘Careers in Football’, among others.

The event will also feature a Job Fair, wherein participants can explore careers in football, learn from industry leaders, and get to network with key executives in the industry.

Organized by MMC Sportz Asia, the event is sanctioned by the Philippines Football Federation (PFF) and sponsored and supported by La Liga, Dentsu, SMG Insight, RSportz, Globe Telecom, Toby’s Sports, Manila Times, New World Makati Hotel and Platinumlist. 

Delegate passes are available online at Platinumlist (The Business of Football - Philippines) and priced at P2,750 for delegates and P1,500 for the student pass.

For more information, please visit: The Business of Football - Philippines
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ABOUT MMC SPORTZ ASIA:

MMC Sportz Asia Inc. as part of the Dubai based MMC Sportz Marketing LLC, is a Manila-based sports marketing agency with clear focus on providing specialized marketing and communication solutions to governing bodies, federations, rights holders and brands within the sports and entertainment to the Philippines. Current and past projects include the current roll-out of “My PFF” the Philippines National Football Player Registration system, the staging in 2015 the inaugural SPIA Asia – Asia’s Sports Industry Awards & Conference, and the inauguration of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) in 2014.