Sports is big money, and with big money comes big Irish sponsorship. There are many types of companies, including casino brands that offer sponsorships to help support sport.
As the age old saying goes, money goes where money grows and we decide to take a look at the top five biggest sponsors of Irish sport (Not Irish Athletes).
1. IRFU – “3”/Canterbury – €22 million
The Joe Schmidt era has sparked a renaissance in Irish Rugby as the recent win over England marked Schmidt’s tenth successive victory as coach of the Irish Rugby team. Ireland are enjoying tremendous onfield success but are also reveling off the paddock as their latest sponsorship deal with mobile provider “3” will see the IRFU pocket €22 million over six year. The IRFU signed the deal with “3” and Canterbury after the Union agreed an €11.5 million settlement with Puma after it withdrew its sponsorship early last year. While the deal is short of the €40 million agreed with Puma in 2009. It is still a sizeable agreement within the Irish sporting landscape
2. All Ireland Hurling Championship – Etihad – €5 million
Middle East airline Etihad agreed to sponsor the All-Ireland senior hurling championship in 2012 in a deal thought to be worth about €5m to the GAA. The deal will see Etihad sponsor the competition until 2017 and the Abu Dhabi airline also secured exclusive naming rights to Croke Park’s Skyline rooftop attraction, which provides visitors with a bird’s eye view of the nation’s capital from 17 storeys up.
3 All Ireland Football Championship – AIB – €4.5 million
AIB and the GAA struck a sponsorship deal at the start of this year that will see the bank give €1.5 million a year for an initial three year period to be the primary sponsor of the GAA’s All-Ireland Football championship. AIB has had a long involvement with the GAA, title sponsoring the All-Ireland club championships since 1992.
4. FAI – “3” – €4 million
Three extended their partnership with the FAI pledging support to Irish football until 2016 in a deal worth an additional €4 million. This adds to the current agreement and already committed investment by Three of €7.8 million to the FAI. Three first start sponsoring the Irish national football team in 2010 and extended their sponsorship with the FAI before their deal expired in 2014. Despite Ireland’s disappointing on field performances in recent years, the sport still remains highly popular amongst fans and consumers with the deal still one of the more lucrative sponsorship deals in Irish sport.
5. Dublin GAA – AIG – €4 million
Dublin GAA signed the biggest inter-county sponsorship deal of all time back in 2013 signing with insurance firm AIG in a deal that is believed to be worth in excess of €4m over a five-year period. The deal united Dublin’s football, hurling and camogie teams under the one banner and the deal is more than twice what any other county can come close to and underlines the county’s growth as a force in both football and hurling in recent years.
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