If you’ve watched a Premier League game on TV in the UK over the last few years you will have undoubtedly been met with such phrases as ‘bet in play now’, ‘latest live odds’ or ‘£50 free bet’ during the game. As the result of a new agreement between the UK’s gambling companies though, this kind of advertising is now due to be banned.
While this ‘whistle-to-whistle’ TV ban does address what has become a significant issue in recent years, one avenue which is still being exploited by gambling companies is that of shirt sponsorship. Behind only perhaps the renaming of a stadium, the centre of a teams’ jersey is prime advertising real estate. As the infographic below shows, in no other major European league is this being taken advantage of more than in the Premier League. This season, almost half of all top-flight clubs are sponsored by a company in the gambling industry. This compares to 20 percent in Spain’s La Liga, only 5 percent in Italy’s Serie A and none in Germany or France.
The figures in this chart are based on Statista’s European Football Benchmark. Download it for free, here.
Multi-Use Sports Complex Will be part of Mixed-Use Development
Allen, TX – Dec. 18, 2018 (PRNewswire) Texas-based Thakkar Developers, in collaboration with The CricRealty Company, unveiled plans for a new 15,000-seat cricket stadium and 80-acre mixed-used development to be built in Allen, Texas.
The 15,000-seat stadium is part of a larger development called Allen Sports Village, which will feature more than 500,000 square feet of Class A office space, 1,000 residential units, 165,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, a training center, an events center, and two hotels. The City of Allen is working with the developers to finalize an economic incentives agreement to support the project.
“Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world,” said Sam Thakkar, CEO of the Perfect Group of Business, which includes Thakkar Developers. “There are an estimated 20 million cricket fans in the United States. Plus, the growing Indian American population and increasing international community in North Texas makes the Allen Sports Village a perfect location for professional cricket.”
The CricRealty Company is working with strategic partners including Donnie Nelson of Amerock Investments, on Allen Sports Village commercial real estate projects.
“We’re thrilled to enter into this private-public partnership with the developers to bring this unique project to Allen,” said Allen Mayor Stephen Terrell. “With a new international visitor base, we look forward to a big boost in tourism spending—which benefits businesses and residents alike.”
In addition to professional cricket, the multi-use stadium will also be suitable for other global sports, concerts and special events. Construction on the site is expected to begin in 2019, with the first phase, including the stadium, expected to be completed 2021.
ABOUT THAKKAR DEVELOPERS
Thakkar Developers is a mixed-use developer that collaborates with best-in-class partners to acquire, finance and develop high-yield, diversified investment-grade assets. With a mission to bring communities – people and businesses – together to achieve a greater good, Thakkar strives for developments that create a sense of place and build community, and projects that leverage public-private partnerships to engender pride of ownership and create a lasting legacy.
