AUSTIN, Texas, March 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Austin FC,
the 27th club in Major League Soccer (MLS), announced today that it
has entered into a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Diageo
North America, a leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding
collection of some of the industry's most iconic brands. Diageo
North America made its first significant investment in Major League
Soccer in 2019 when it entered into a deal that established Captain
Morgan as the league's exclusive spirits partner. This multi-year
partnership with Austin FC marks a reinforcement of the brand's
commitment to not only the game of soccer in the United States, but also to the city of
Austin and the dedicated fans who have waited years for this
historic inaugural season.
Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8870251-diageo-captain-morgan-austin-fc-sponsorship/
The groundbreaking founding sponsorship agreement establishes
Captain Morgan as an Official Partner of Austin FC and grants
Captain Morgan entitlement rights to the Q2 Stadium East Club
hospitality area, which now becomes The Captain Morgan Club. The brand-new, state-of-the-art
bar and club will provide East Club members with an exclusive,
top-flight food and beverage experience during Austin FC home
matches and events hosted at Q2 Stadium.
"We know that Austinites have a fondness for indoor-outdoor
gathering spaces, and we are proud to introduce The Captain
Morgan Club as the official name for
the East Club hospitality area at the stadium, which will offer an
indoor-outdoor gathering space that is unique to MLS stadiums for
members and non-members alike," said Andy
Loughnane, President of Austin FC. "We look forward to
opening the doors of the Captain Morgan
Club and providing fans with an unforgettable experience for
many matchdays to come."
The signature indoor-outdoor design of The Captain Morgan Club will produce one of the most
distinctive hospitality destinations within sports and
entertainment. The unique functionality of the Captain Morgan Club on Austin FC matchdays establishes a
flexible service model that begins with exclusive access to members
prior to and during the match before opening to all ticketed guests
after the match concludes.
"Since Diageo and Captain Morgan signed its first official
partnership with Major League Soccer in summer 2019, we have
witnessed the sustained expansion of the league and continue to be
excited by the sport's ultra-passionate fanbase. It's just a great
time for the growth of the sport here in the U.S.," said
Ed Pilkington, Chief Marketing and
Innovation Officer for Diageo North America. "Matching that fan
passion with a city like Austin,
TX; rich with personality and culture is a great
cocktail! We can't wait to put down our roots and witness
that passion in Austin's first major professional sports team. All
of us at Diageo look forward to working with Austin FC to show the
club's supporters and the city that Diageo and Captain Morgan is
committed to providing them with the top-tier gameday experience
they deserve."
Excel Sports Management's properties division, the
go-to-solution for commercial strategy development and the sale of
marquee partnership assets such as stadium naming rights and
on-uniform branding, assisted Austin FC management in the sourcing
and finalization of the Diageo North America agreement.
Additionally, as the exclusive spirits partner of Q2 Stadium,
Diageo North America will work closely in tandem with Captain
Morgan and Austin FC throughout the duration of the partnership on
a range of programming that will include community and consumer
activities across Austin and Central
Texas.
About Austin FC
Austin FC joined Major League Soccer
(MLS) as the 27th club in January
2019. Austin FC will officially begin play in 2021 in the
new, 100% privately financed, $260
million, state-of-the-art Q2 Stadium in Austin.
Austin FC operates Austin FC Academy, the fully funded
developmental academy representing the highest level of competition
for elite youth soccer players in Central
Texas, while serving as the exclusive developmental pathway
to MLS for the region's most talented young players.
About Captain Morgan
Captain Morgan is the number one
selling spiced rum and the third largest spirits brand in the U.S.
Captain Morgan encourages everyone 21+ to always spice things up by
bringing the flavor to every occasion. The Captain Morgan portfolio
includes CAPTAIN MORGAN Original Spiced Rum, CAPTAIN MORGAN Sliced
Apple Spiced Rum, CAPTAIN MORGAN White Rum, CAPTAIN MORGAN
Pineapple Rum, CAPTAIN MORGAN Coconut Rum, CAPTAIN MORGAN Black
Spiced Rum, CAPTAIN MORGAN Private Stock, CAPTAIN MORGAN Cannon
Blast, CAPTAIN MORGAN LocoNut,
CAPTAIN MORGAN Apple Smash, CAPTAIN MORGAN Watermelon Smash,
CAPTAIN MORGAN Grapefruit Rum. For more information, visit
www.CaptainMorgan.com.
About Diageo North America
Diageo is a global leader
in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands
including Johnnie Walker, Crown
Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel
One vodkas, Casamigos and Don Julio
tequilas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO)
and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: DGE) and their products are
sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more
information about Diageo, their people, brands, and performance,
visit www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible
drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information,
initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Follow at Twitter and
Instagram for news and information about Diageo North America:
@Diageo_NA.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Tom Webb, VP Public Relations and
Broadcast, Austin FC
C: 512.952.9369 / E: twebb@austinfc.com
Mauricio Villarreal, Senior
Public Relations Manager, Austin
FC
C: 919-808-8848 / E: mvillarreal@austinfc.com
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SOURCE Diageo North America