Ladbrokes to sponsor SPFL for next two years

The SPFL has today announced the betting company Ladbrokes as its title sponsor from season 2015/16, in a two-year deal which includes rights across all four leagues and 42 clubs.

The deal is the biggest ever of its kind in Scottish football and will see the nation’s professional football leagues become known as the Ladbrokes Premiership, Ladbrokes Championship, Ladbrokes League 1 and Ladbrokes League 2 ahead of the start of the new season in August.

It marks the latest in a rich history of high-profile sports sponsorship and brand associations for Ladbrokes, which plans to run a host of activations through the different rights of its SPFL title partnership.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Ladbrokes to the SPFL’s growing family of key sponsors and partners and look forward to working with them from season 2015/16 at this truly exciting time for Scottish football.

“As an established and respected leading brand in its very competitive marketplace, Ladbrokes is a perfect partner for the SPFL and we have a shared vision of a positive future for professional league football in Scotland. Ladbrokes’ backing of Scottish football is hugely valued and appreciated and I say that not only on behalf of the SPFL but also for all 42 member clubs.

“Today’s announcement is the result of significant investment of energy and effort and further strengthens our optimism about the future health of the game in Scotland.

“With all that positivity comes an opportunity to tell the story of a modern, engaging and exciting Scottish football environment and we look forward to doing just that with all our partners including new title sponsor Ladbrokes.”

Ladbrokes is a world leader in the betting and gaming industry with more than 2,100 shops and a great heritage and presence across UK sport.  It has recently sponsored Rugby Football League’s Challenge Cup, extended its backing of horse racing’s St Leger Festival at Doncaster and continues to sponsor The Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Welcoming the new partnership, Jim Mullen, CEO of Ladbrokes said: “We love football so we are delighted to be working with the SPFL on one of the best opportunities in British sport.

“This partnership will help to propel Ladbrokes and the SPFL to new heights and will put us at the heart of Scottish football throughout the year. Getting people engaged with great sport and making sure they share our passion is at the very core of everything we are about.

“Our customers support clubs at every level of Scottish football from the professional leagues that we sponsor to the local Sunday League stalwarts. The Scottish game deserves a committed supporter and our financial backing will help to ensure every level of the game benefits from Ladbrokes’ involvement.”