Barcelona - sponsored?

[Pauro 76]

Just wondering, are Barcelona FC actually sponsored by Unicef or are they just representing them for free... thought it was tradition by them never to have sponsors or is this different?

[Dodge]

They actually pay €1.5million to unicef and a percentage of something or other. They receive no monies at all from unicef

[drinkfeckarse]

I wondered that myself. I didn't realise Barca actually pay them though! I didn't think a charitable organisation such as Unicef would be able to pay such sponsorship so I assumed Barca were giving them free publicity as such.

[Dodge]

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/eng/noticias/especiales/UNICEF.shtml

Contribution of FC Barcelona

- FC will support Unicef's work by means of an annual financial contribution via its Foundation of one million five hundred thousand euros.

- Unicef will use each annual contribution to support the programs and projects agreed in the plan of activities. This will be applied to programs and projects that benefit the most vulnerable children mainly in Africa, Asia and South and Central America, will special emphasis on children affected by HIV/AIDS, orphaned by AIDS and other children being exploited, abused or at risk of social exclusion.

- Each annual contribution will be accepted and administered by Unicef in accordance with Unicef norms and regulations in reference to contributions, including those related to the indirect costs of supporting Unicef programs, interests, auditing and the presentation of reports as valid at the time of the corresponding Unicef action.

- The club will also support Unicef activity by providing it with the use of its own advertising assets.

- The club will support Unicef activities through its players, promoters and members. The club has also expressed its specific interest in working with Unicef's National Committees in the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan and with Unicef's national offices in India and China.

[Pauro 76]

that clears that one. didnt think charities were allowed sponsorship but this explains a lot. though they’re not sponsors, does that mean Atletico Bilbao the last remaining sponsors in european football without a logo on their shirts?

[Lim till i die]

Limerick F.C. don't sullie the shirt with a sponsor ;) :p

[Pauro 76]

Limerick F.C. don't sullie the shirt with a sponsor ;) :p

Probably becuase you can't get one! ;) When the Town first got promoted, we had none either. then came Flancare....

[osarusan]

Limerick F.C. don't sullie the shirt with a sponsor ;) :p


Our shirt is too sacred to have the name of a mere company on it - the shirt is a spiritual entity.

We dont seem to mind changing the crest every few years though.

[Pauro 76]

Our shirt is too sacred to have the name of a mere company on it - the shirt is a spiritual entity.

We dont seem to mind changing the crest every few years though.

Based on Leeds this season? who next? ;)

[TheBoss]

that clears that one. didnt think charities were allowed sponsorship but this explains a lot. though they’re not sponsors, does that mean Atletico Bilbao the last remaining sponsors in european football without a logo on their shirts?

When they played in the UEFA Cup a few years back, they had a sponser on their shirts, I think it was Eusketel-Euskedi, I think it is a Basque Telephone company.

[Jerry The Saint]

Slippery slope, I reckon. Watch them gradually change the name to something slightly less worthy but still admirable until they eventually run out on the pitch with Shell Oil or Al Qaeda on their jerseys...

[drinkfeckarse]

Still a great gesture though. They could have cashed in on huge sponsorship whenever they so wished.

[Dodge]

Good gesture but liek the lads say it looks like the start of bringing in full shirt sponsorship

[Jamjar]

Good gesture but liek the lads say it looks like the start of bringing in full shirt sponsorship

My God, what unbelievable cynicism. They help a charity and everyone thinks it's just a ploy to get sponsorship. Its been a tradition for so long at Barca, I doubt if the membership would go for it now.

[Dodge]

Membership already have gone for it. Laporta said he'd do it during his election campaign. They were talking to loads of companies last year and came close to agreeing a deal with the Chinese government to promote the 2008 Olympics

[Over the post]

And while it was in the news that they were negotiating the Chinese deal, there was hardly a peep out of the fans, so I think Laporta more or less has a free hand to decide on shirt sponsorship... which makes the decision to pass up on an eight figure deal and go with Unicef even more laudable. It may well be a prelude to commercial sponsorship and the free publicity generated by the news story will help the club sell shirts, but all in all I think you have to applaud the gesture.

[Dodge]

And while it was in the news that they were negotiating the Chinese deal, there was hardly a peep out of the fans
There was a fairly big deal made out of it by some and talks of protests etc but seeing as the talks failed, the protests petered out. I think the majority of fans there realise that they need extra iincome to compete with the Man U/Real madrid incomes but the problem with Beijing and Bet & Win deals was the type of sponsors Barca were about to have

[osarusan]

I think the majority of fans there realise that they need extra iincome to compete with the Man U/Real madrid incomes

I think you are right about real sponsorship being on the way, but do they really need it to keep up with the Man U/Real/Chelsea etc.?

They are Spanish champions for 2 years running and Euro champs also.

I know more money always gives more options, but it's hard togive the excuse of needing to keep up when you are actually the best team in your domestic league and in Europe.

[cornersoul]

Do Nike and TV3 (The Catalan TV station's logo is on the sleeve) get their exposure for free aswell?

Does that count as sponsorship or ''sullying the shirt''?:cool:

[John83]

I think you are right about real sponsorship being on the way, but do they really need it to keep up with the Man U/Real/Chelsea etc.?
They were in serious financial difficulty a few years back, so even with all that success, they may still be a little cautious about spending.

As I understand it, the members' fees covered the shirt sponsorship anyway, but they seem to be happy to have it both ways.

Pity to see it disappear though. It was a nice touch.

[Dodge]

They say that the Catalan TV thing is public service. As do esanyol

[Dodge]

They were in serious financial difficulty a few years back, so even with all that success, they may still be a little cautious about spending.

As I understand it, the members' fees covered the shirt sponsorship anyway, but they seem to be happy to have it both ways.

Pity to see it disappear though. It was a nice touch.
Depends what you mean by covered. There's 100,000+ members paying €120 a year (roughly) but they'd earn more through Spanish TV rights than that, never mind Champions League rights etc. Laporte's point of view is that If they had that €12m plus another €15m a year from Coca Cola (or whatever) they'd be unstoppable.

What some of the tradiotanlists are pushing for are that companies like Coca Cola and the other current "partners" stump up €1m each for exclusive sponsorship agreements rather than the paltry amounts they currently pay (have heard its as little as €100k for the big deals - Coke, Estrella Damm) to make up for that sponsorship shortfall. (Shortfall as other members' clubs also have megabucks deals - Real, Bayern etc)


I think they'd lose out on loads and loads of shirt sales as having a sponsor on it makes it at least 100 times less attractive

[John83]

I think they'd lose out on loads and loads of shirt sales as having a sponsor on it makes it at least 100 times less attractive
Yeah, but €15m worth?

[Dodge]

Couldn't tell you but I wouldnt underestimate it either. Instantly loses its iconic status