Ipswich Town have announced a new three-and-half-year sponsorship deal which will see the online casino brand ‘Magical Vegas’ appear on their shirts.
The club, whose shirts have had the name of owner Marcus Evans on them since the start of the 2008/09, says it will receive ‘close to £2m’ for the partnership with Daub Alderney Ltd, who are part of the Stride Gaming group.
‘Magical Vegas’ will replace the ‘Marcus Evans Group’ logo on Town’s red away shirt only for the remainder of this season and will be emblazoned on the front of all Town’s first-team shirts from next season until the end of the 2020/21 campaign.
Town, who have the logo of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices on the back of their shirts, become the 14th Championship club to have an online gambling website as their main shirt sponsor.
A club statement reads: “Supporters who have purchased an adult away shirt for this season can have the Magical Vegas logo overprinted on the shirt free of charge at the Planet Blue store. This service is not available immediately but will be put in place as soon as possible and will be publicised through the club’s normal media channels.
“Those unable to get to Planet Blue in person can use a postal return option that will be put in place by the club. Again, full details will be confirmed in the near future.
“All shirts at children’s sizes will continue to carry the Marcus Evans Group logo for the rest of this season but will not feature the Magical Vegas logo next year in line with Football Association guidelines.
“The agreement, which will net Town close on £2m over the duration of the contract while a Championship club, will see the end of a 10 year run as shirt sponsors for the Marcus Evans Group.
“Stride Gaming prides itself on its commitment to responsible gaming. The two parties will be working closely throughout the partnership to ensure this continues.”
Blues managing director Ian Milne said: “A lot of hard work has taken place on both sides and it’s the start of an exciting new partnership.”
Town’s director of sales, Rosie Richardson, added: “We’ve been working on this agreement since the autumn and we are all delighted it has come to fruition.
“Magical Vegas is an exciting brand and we look forward to a new era of shirt sponsor at Ipswich Town Football Club.”
Konstantinos Veletas, spokesperson for the Stride Gaming group, said: “We are delighted to be working alongside such a prestigious football club as Ipswich Town.
“It’s a thrilling new venture for us and we are looking forward to a very successful partnership over the next three and a half years.”
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