Sponsoring a football club is one thing, but the following firms have sponsored whole entire leagues.
Italy has been one of the most successful national teams ever, and the domestic league is no different. The league has been among the most watched competitions since soccer started to be televised internationally, and this was especially true throughout the 90’s when the division was the most dominant in the world. Having the worlds leading footballers helps to advertise the division across the world, and with the introduction of possibly the very best player of all time, this has never been more relevant. As the division is so viewed and popular it has led the Telecom Italia board to sponsor the division; with such great viewership, it is an effective way of advertising the business and brand. As the sponsorship is long-term, the firm becomes synonymous with the division and makes the brand almost a household name.
Spanish football has been the dominant force for the last decade or so, and as a result of this their domestic division has been very popular. The top two club teams in Spain draw in some the greatest crowds and television viewers of any sports clubs. One of the Spanish teams has been the best team in Europe in terms of the top European league, which is the most watched club cup competition. Spanish football dominance was not restricted just to the club competitions, as the Spanish national team also won 3 international championships in a row not too long ago. Being a Spanish commercial bank, it was a natural and successful step for the Santander board to sponsor the Spanish top division. Some people criticise the league for being too top heavy, where the top three or four teams are far better than the rest of the league, however that is inevitable when the top teams are as excellent as they are.
The most viewed division in the world is the English top division, which many people argue is the most competitive too; this competitiveness explains why the league is so popular in countries on the other side of the world. So not only is the English league the biggest domestic league in Europe, but also the world. Such large appeal makes the division an interesting sponsorship prospect for the most significant firms, which is why the Barclays executives have made the judgment to sponsor the league for many years. Some of the most famous players in the world play in England, so it creates plenty of debating points for supporters, which means the sponsors of the league are also talked about, making it an effective sponsorship prospect. The division has the greatest t.v. package in the world, so the clubs and everyone involved receive a cut of the big pay out from the TV package; the deal is so large because the division has a few of the greatest European football clubs.