Emirates Airlines announce New York Cosmos sponsorship

A couple of days back, iconic US football club the New York Cosmos, who are re-entering the NASL later this year, announced that Emirates Airline will be their shirt sponsor. This agreement makes Emirates a Founding Partner of the New York Cosmos in their North American reboot season. The announcement was revealed by New York Cosmos Honorary President Pelé, club Chairman Seamus O’Brien and Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice-President of Revenue Optimization and Distribution, at a press conference at the Four Seasons Hotel New York.

“This is a big day for the future of the New York Cosmos,” Brazilian legend Pelé said. “It’s wonderful to be part of such a pre-eminent soccer family.”

“We are delighted that we could create this partnership and bring such a world-renowned organization to United States soccer for the first time,” O’Brien said. “There’s no bigger corporate supporter of sports, and soccer in particular, than Emirates. We’re proud and honored that the Cosmos are part of their plans for America and New York in particular.”

“New York has a rich tradition of sport, and Emirates proudly supports some of the world’s top soccer teams, including AC Milan, Hamburger SV, Arsenal FC, Olympiacos FC, and Paris Saint-Germain, plus the recently announced shirt sponsorship of Real Madrid just last week. Therefore, choosing to support the relaunch of the Cosmos back to this amazing city was an obvious choice,” said Nabil Sultan. “As with our sponsorship of the US Open tennis tournament, Emirates views our partnership with the Cosmos as a way to thank the people of New York for making Emirates one of the world’s fastest growing airlines. Along with their fans all across the region, we look forward to watching the Cosmos reclaim their title as New York’s legendary soccer team.”

The Fly Emirates logo will adorn the legendary Cosmos green and white shirts produced by Nike beginning with the 2013 North American Soccer League (NASL) fall season. The jerseys will make their debut on August 3 at the Cosmos’ opening match against old rivals the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Emirates will benefit from significant branding at Cosmos matches in and around Hofstra University’s Shuart Stadium, as well as online through the New York Cosmos’ social and digital media channels. Additionally, Emirates becomes the presenting sponsor of Cosmos Copa, a soccer tournament played in New York City between local, community-based ‘national teams’. Emirates and the Cosmos will also activate a number of unique and interactive events in New York around the NASL season.

These are interesting times for football in New York after the recent announcement that Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour along with the NY Yankees would launch the second New York City FC franchise in Major League Soccer, but which somewhat closed the route for the NY Cosmos to join the top tier of North American football. Still, the Emirates sponsorship announcement should give them and their brand a positive push.