Crystal Palace name Enjoy Illinois as destination partner

Premier League outfit Crystal Palace have revealed Enjoy Illinois as the club’s official destination partner.

Under the terms of the new deal, the tourism board’s logo will feature on the sleeves of the Eagles’ training kits, and will benefit from prominent brand promotion throughout the team’s Selhurst Park home.

Enjoy Illinois will additionally sponsor halftime fan activations, which allow supporters to win prizes during home matches.

The deal comes after Palace visited Chicago during the club’s US pre-season tour in 2023. The team returned to the US for this year’s preseason.

Palace are majority-owned by US businessman John Textor, are one of ten Premier League clubs with American owners.

The South London club has become the latest English team to partner with a US tourism board this year, after  Brighton’s sleeve deal with Experience Kissimmee, Bournemouth’s partnership with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), and Burnley’s pact with Visit Detroit.

“Crystal Palace has a significant following among American fans, particularly due to the Club’s engaging social media presence and outreach efforts,” said Barry Webber, Chief Commercial Officer at Crystal Palace.

“We were pleased to welcome the cast to the stadium last season for a game and hope this partnership can continue to deepen our relationship between the club and our fans in Illinois.”

“We welcomed 2.16 million international visitors to Illinois in 2023, and the UK remains one of our top five markets,” added Daniel Thomas, Deputy Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Tourism.

“As we gear up for the football season, we’re eager to welcome Crystal Palace fans to discover Illinois’ world class sports entertainment, our vibrant city of Chicago and diverse culture, all while getting your “kicks” on Route 66 and enjoying our small-town charm and thrilling outdoor adventures.”

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