Budweiser To End FA Cup Sponsorship
Budweiser has confirmed that it will not be renewing its sponsorship of the FA Cup at the end of the season, ending its £9 million-a-year association with football’s oldest competition, to reportedly focus on its deal with FIFA to sponsor the next three editions of the World Cup.
The Anheuser-Busch InBev-owned beer brand took over from E.On in 2012 and during its sponsorship streamed the first ever FA Cup match on Facebook as well as investing £1 million in grassroots football in the UK.
Budweiser’s trade sales director, Iain Newell, said: ‘We are proud of our support for the world’s most prestigious domestic cup competition. The partnership has been great for Budweiser, fans and clubs around the UK.’
He added: ‘We continue our long-standing association with football through Budweiser’s sponsorship of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, and the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.’
The Football Association’s commercial director, Stuart Turner, added: ‘Budweiser has embraced The FA Cup and we’re grateful for their support.The cup retains a special place in English football and it remains an important competition, not just in England, but across the globe. Next year, The FA Cup will move to the BBC’s platforms and we are very excited about its future.’
Wigan Athletic are the current holders, after defeating Manchester City 1-0 to win the Cup for the first time, with this year’s final representing the last match under Budweiser’s current partnership.
