A new sports marketing company launches this week to develop the market for sports venue naming rights in Europe.
Sportacus, based in London, is to be headed by Stephen Pearson who is the former Marketing Director of TEAM AG (UEFA Champions League), and former Commercial Director of the English Premier League.
More recently, Stephen Pearson has been developing the naming rights programme for Arena 2000, the new multi-purpose venue in Coventry, opening in 2002.
Stephen Pearson said ‘The Naming Rights marketplace in the USA is currently a $3 billion+ industry but under $100 million here in Europe. There are huge opportunities to build on an already proven business model in Europe, which is clearly an underdeveloped marketplace for naming rights.
Global brands are attracted to this unique marketing opportunity and in particular, new technology companies who are using the importance of stadia to demonstrate their products and services in a real life and exciting environment on the back of the huge media awareness these rights deals provide.
For stadium owners, naming rights are also providing an invaluable source of revenue to the funding of their developments, be they new facilities or existing venues’
There is currently no other company in Europe focusing on this opportunity and Sportacus intends to match up stadium owners around Europe together with blue chip brand owners. Pearson has spent the last 13 years in advertising and sports marketing and has direct relationships with some of the world’s biggest brands.
Sportacus is being backed by a number of international investors, including Rob Hersov, the founder and CEO of the pan-European Sportal network and Michael Watt, founder of CSI amongst others.
Stephen Pearson continued – ‘We are already in discussion with a number of stadium owners throughout Europe. We are focusing initially on new stadium developments but will also be developing partnerships with existing facilities. The opportunity for naming rights will not just be developed with football stadia but will also extend to other sports such as rugby, athletics and motor racing.
Rob Hersov added – ‘ I am extremely pleased to be involved in Sportacus and have recognised for a long time that Naming Rights is an attractive growth market in Europe. With the unique experience that Stephen brings to this sector, I am confident that Sportacus will emerge as the leading player in a short time.’
For further information please contact:
Stephen Pearson
Tel + 44 7770 577 361