Lagardère Sports announced today that Grand Sport, one of Asia’s largest sports apparel and equipment manufacturer, has been appointed the official football supplier of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018. Grand Sport’s partnership with Southeast Asia’s illustrious football championship kicks off the Thai brand’s first-ever regional sponsorship and underscores the company’s ambition to distinguish its brand in a burgeoning market of over 600 million people.
Under the terms of the agreement, Grand Sport will be the Official Match Ball Supplier for all 28 matches of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 and will supply the ball boy kits and referee kits throughout the event. The first match featuring the specially customised Grand Sport match balls and kits will be the qualifier between Timor Leste and Brunei on 1 September 2018.
As an official football supplier of the region’s most prestigious and highly-anticipated football tournament, Grand Sport will enjoy unprecedented levels of brand exposure and engagement opportunities with football fans across the region. The Grand Sport logo will also be prominently displayed on official tournament print collateral and perimeter advertising boards.
The partnership also grants Grand Sport the rights to use the official tournament logo across its marketing platforms as well as sell co-branded merchandise and apparel during the tournament.
Thara Pluckcha-oom, Executive Director of Grand Sport, said, “As we continuously strive to be a leading manufacturer of sporting apparels and equipment in Thailand and across the region, we hope to provide quality sportswear and accessories that will enhance athlete performance across all levels. The AFF Suzuki Cup marks the first time we are sponsoring a regional asset, and it underlines our commitment in supporting the growth and development of football in Asia.”
Tom Smith, President of Football (Asia) at Lagardère Sports – the exclusive commercial partner of the AFF Suzuki Cup – said, “The AFF Suzuki Cup is the most important biennial showcase of Southeast Asia’s greatest football talents, and we are delighted to facilitate this strategic partnership between this event and Grand Sport. Not only will Grand Sport’s high-quality football apparel and equipment enrich the match-day experiences of the players, we are certain that meaningful partnerships such as this will help spur them to greater heights.”
