Manchester agency Eleven Sports Media has joined forces with Premier League club, and newfound Champions’ League spot botherer, Aston Villa as an official partner of the Aston Villa Foundation, strengthening the club’s commitment to its community roots while empowering local businesses through a new partnership programme.
Under the multi-year agreement, Eleven, leaders in hyperlocal sports marketing, will make a “significant seven-figure” investment into the foundation, which for over 30 years has delivered community programs on behalf of Aston Villa Football Club, laying the groundwork for the club’s strong presence in its local community today.
Working with over 30,000 children and young adults annually, the Aston Villa Foundation delivers over 40 innovative programmes and projects across the city of Birmingham, supporting the education, employment, health and wellbeing of participants.
Alongside its support for the foundation, Eleven will introduce its landmark Foundation Community Partnership to Villa Park, enabling small and medium-sized businesses across the West Midlands to showcase their brand on matchdays, connect at exclusive events, access bespoke marketing campaigns and engage with the fanbase of one of the most historic names in football.
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Foundation Community Partners’ branding will be prominently displayed on LED boards during home games for both the men’s and women’s teams at the iconic Villa Park, providing businesses with unprecedented exposure to thousands of match-going Villa fans.
Eleven will also enhance the matchday fan experience by delivering in-house content, social feeds, and real-time statistics on stadium screens throughout Villa Park via its award-winning StatTV and StadiumTV platforms.
Foundation Community Partners will help support initiatives such as Villa Vision, which delivers free glasses to schoolchildren; the Villa Catering Club, which upskills participants and creates job opportunities within the hospitality industry; and Everybody’s Game, promoting inclusivity in sport for British South Asian communities, women and girls.
Matt Cairns, founder & CEO of Eleven Sports Media, says: “We’re proud to partner with Aston Villa and invest in the incredible work of the Aston Villa Foundation. For over three decades, the Foundation has been a catalyst for change at the heart of the local community, and this partnership allows us to help grow that legacy even further.
“It will offer local businesses a unique opportunity to align with Aston Villa’s community values while gaining visibility at one of the Premier League’s most renowned venues, creating a blueprint for how sport and business can work together to deliver lasting social impact.”
Guy Rippon, head of foundation for the Aston Villa Foundation, said: “We are excited to be partnering with Eleven Sports Media to continuously promote the foundation’s great work. The partnership will connect the Foundation with local businesses, to build new relationships and boost the impactful work of the Foundation to a new and wider audience. We are thankful to Eleven for their support in this incredible new venture.”
The Aston Villa Foundation is a registered charity that delivers the community and charity work of Aston Villa Football Club.
