adidas signs on as Official Supplier of the Champions League
Herzogenaurach, 06/08/2000 - adidas, the world’s leading soccer brand, will be an Official Supplier and Licensee of the UEFA Champions League, starting with the season 2000/2001. The agreement which has been reached with UEFA will ensure adidas’ prominence at the world’s most elite soccer competition which is one of the most watched soccer events world-wide.
The contract offers adidas extensive licensing and event rights around the UEFA Champions League, such as an innovative Internet co-operation, priority access to TV advertising at all games of the tournament and stadium signage. adidas will also supply the official match-ball of the UEFA Champions League and match-officials’ equipment for every game. An adidas UEFA Champions League licence range will be on sale world-wide from November 2000 onwards.
“Our commitment to the UEFA Champions League underlines our determination to further strengthen our position as the undisputed number one soccer brand in the world. The UEFA Champions League is the tournament where the best play the very best - a natural place for adidas to be, both in terms of products and brand image,“ said Erich Stamminger, Member of the Executive Board of adidas-Salomon AG, responsible for marketing world-wide.
Gerhard Aigner, UEFA Chief Executive, stated: “We are delighted to welcome adidas as supplier in the UEFA Champions League. adidas is a long-term partner of UEFA and joins now the most prestigious event in club football in Europe. We are looking forward to a very close co-operation in the next years.“
adidas will also be the major brand on the field of play in the next Champions League season. Prominent clubs, such as UEFA Champions League winner Real Madrid, FC Bayern Munich, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Deportivo La Coruna and Spartak Moscow are already confirmed with more to follow after the qualification phase. These clubs all endorse adidas products. Also, individual players like David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Patrick Kluivert, Raúl Gonzalez and Alessandro del Piero will represent their respective clubs wearing the state-of-the-art adidas EQUIPMENT Predator® Precision soccer boot.