Hollis Sponsorship Bulletin

Long-haul airline Virgin Atlantic Airways has reached an agreement with the National Football League (NFL) to become the Official Airline of the 2010 Pepsi Max International Series which takes place at Wembley Stadium this Sunday, October 31st.  Returning as the NFL’s charter airline of choice for the second year running, Virgin Atlantic will be hosting the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos on chartered flights to London for the game.

Virgin Atlantic has extended its relationship to become a UK sponsor of the NFL, benefits of which will include promotions to its Flying Club members to win trips to a 49ers home game in the US and to Super Bowl XLV, which takes place in North Texas in February 2011.  The airline will also be sponsoring the NFL’s Saturday Night River Cruise the evening before the Wembley game and hosting a hospitality event for special guests at the stadium.  Furthermore, the airline will also receive brand presence at the first-ever NFL Fan Rally, which is taking place in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 30 October.

Marc Armstrong, Commercial Director of NFL UK, said: “We are delighted to be working once again with Virgin Atlantic as we continue to build on the success of our previous International Series games in the UK and expand our portfolio of UK sponsors.  Virgin Atlantic is a powerful brand on both sides of the Atlantic and, with this extended relationship, is the perfect partner for the NFL as we continue to grow our presence and fan base internationally.

The International Series game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK at 5.00 pm GMT and on CBS affiliates in the US at 1.00 pm.

Virgin Atlantic has signed as a sponsor of London-based rugby union club Saracens. The Virgin Atlantic logo will feature on the sleeve of the Saracens jersey.  The new shirt for the 2010/11 season is launching tomorrow.
Commenting on the deal, a spokesperson at Virgin Atlantic said:  “We are excited by the fast-growing profile of Saracens and Premiership rugby union in general.  The club has this season recorded the highest average home attendance in the league, and we look forward to developing a close association with Saracens and its growing band of supporters.
“Virgin Atlantic is pleased to be working with Saracens who have strong links with South Africa – Virgin Atlantic flies both to Cape Town and Johannesburg.  Fans from South Africa and the UK watch their team play on television or live at Vicarage Road and Wembley Stadium. 
“Virgin Atlantic prides itself on offering the best value for money for sports players and fans and sees the communication opportunities available at Saracens as a great way of delivering this message.”
Saracens chairman Nigel Wray said:  “The Saracens brand is growing on the back of the team’s outstanding performances on the field and the spectacular occasions we have hosted at Wembley.”

Virgin Atlantic announced today that it is to be the Official Airline Supplier to the England World Cup squad. The airline will provide the England team with its own plane which will fly direct from London Heathrow to Johannesburg on 3 June, ready for the kick-off of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The Airbus A340-600 will carry the England Manager and his 23 man squad along with its key support team.