CHELSEA AND DISNEY IN SOCCER PARTNERSHIP
Mon, 16/07/2007 - 06:29





Chelsea Football Club is teaming up with the world's leading entertainment company, The Walt Disney Company, in a long-term agreement. The move is part of Chelsea’s business strategy to become the world’s biggest club brand.



The partnership is with Disney’s Wide World of Sports. “This partnership is groundbreaking for both sides,” said Chelsea Business Affairs Director Paul Smith. “Chelsea is committed to assisting and promoting all levels of soccer in the United States and youth soccer is a massive part of that. Disney is at the forefront of that movement in the US.on various levels.”





Under the terms of the four-year agreement, Chelsea becomes the Official Professional Soccer Club of Disney’s Wide World of Sports and presenting sponsor of the Disney Soccer Showcase Series. As a result, Chelsea will be associated with the top youth soccer event destination, Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, and the number one youth soccer event in the United States, Disney’s Soccer Showcase.

The announcement is the first stage in a possible broader partnership between the two companies. Further talks are planned to see how Chelsea can work with the various entertainment and media brands within Disney.

Chelsea will also have significant presence at other Disney created soccer events through coaching and player clinics which will be held in association with some of the events. These will be run under the guidance of Chelsea's Football in the Community scheme.

An annual educational exchange programme will also be created where at least one Chelsea Soccer Academy team will visit and compete at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. In exchange, Chelsea will bring a winning team from a selected Disney soccer tournament to be their guests at a Chelsea match and train at their Soccer Academy which is rapidly gaining international renown as one of the leading academies in the world.

“To align ourselves with Chelsea FC, which is recognised as one of the most popular soccer clubs in the world, will not only confirm the position of the Disney Soccer Showcase as the premiere youth soccer tournament in the United States, but now makes it an absolute must tournament for youth soccer players everywhere," said Mike Millay, Director of Sports at the Walt Disney World Resort. "We look forward to a long and rewarding relationship with Chelsea. Their involvement with our events will provide a phenomenal guest experience for the thousands of young soccer players through interactions with one of the leading soccer academies in the world.”




The agreement represents Disney Sports’ most significant alliance with an international sports organisation to date, further cementing Disney’s Wide World of Sports as the pre-eminent venue for amateur and professional sports in the world.