Man City Thai-up Further Asian Partnerships
Manchester City has announced a partnership with the Thai arm of Japanese car battery brand GS Battery, in a deal that will see the manufacturer become the club’s Official Car Battery Partner for Thailand.
The agreement with the firm, which also manufacturers power supply systems and lighting equipment, become City’s official car battery partner for Thailand.
According to the club, GS Battery was the first to invent and produce the lead-acid storage battery.
The firm will create a new TV advert featuring City players, which will be aired across Thailand and will use the club’s crest and player imagery on packaging and in marketing material.
Tom Glick, the chief commercial and operating officer for Manchester City, said: ‘We are striving to build a high performing football club to be enjoyed by our growing fan base around the world, whereas GS Battery also strives for continuous technological and environmental advancement in order to develop the highest quality products for its customers. This shared vision will allow both organisations to passionately deliver a more exciting football experience for fans across Thailand.’
Prakasit Pornprapar, executive director of Siam GS Sales, the distribution arm of GS Battery, added: ‘Manchester City is internationally recognised as a football club for the new generation of football fans. Within a short period of time, they have already gathered over 2.3 million supporters in Thailand. Our partnership with City will not only help create a new era in Thailand’s football development, but also simultaneously enable GS Battery to broaden its brand awareness and build confidence in our products, for both existing and new customers.’
‘Through supporting our local football industry by sponsoring the Thai Premier League and Division 2, and partnering with Manchester City, it is hoped GS Battery will help raise the international standard of our local game, while helping to create opportunities for Thais to one day enter world football in the near future.’
Meanwhile, the club has also unveiled plans to expand the capacity of its Etihad Stadium by 12,000 in time for the start of the 2015/16 season.
The expansion will take the capacity of the stadium to 60,000 and would make the ground the fourth largest in the League, following Liverpool’s plans to expand its Anfield stadium to over 60,000 this summer. A decision on the expansion will be taken by April 2014 with the renovation expected to cost in the region of £50 million.
