23 February, 2011, Singapore – Electrical, IT and Furniture retailer Courts have agreed to a partnership with The New York Cosmos. The New York Cosmos will visit Asia for the first time since the club’s recent rebirth. Football legends Pelé (Honorary President) and Eric Cantona (Director of Soccer) will be accompanying the club’s executives throughout the tour to Hong Kong and Singapore. This sponsorship further reinforces Courts commitment to the S-League club sponsorship of the Courts Young Lions.
Courts will develop promotional and publicity programmes around the partnership, while reinforcing both organisations’ commitment to promoting youth football. Courts is currently title sponsor of S-League club the Courts Young Lions, while The New York Cosmos operates two elite youth academies in New York and Los Angeles called Cosmos Academy East and Cosmos Academy West, respectively.
To officially announce this partnership and to launch the Courts Young Lions Fan Club, Courts will host a “football fiesta” fan event and press conference on Thursday 3rd March at the Jalan Besar Stadium, with Pelé and Cantona in attendance.
Lucky fans will have the opportunity to win special prizes as well as meet the legends themselves. Courts Young Lions fan club members will get priority seating, additional chances to meet with the legends as well as other special treats. Courts Young Lions players and cubs, along with the National Football Academy, will be invited to participate in the festivities at the stadium as well. A plethora of activities will take place, which include the chance to receive a photo opportunity with the legends, a live radio Q&A session, live musical performances and more.
In addition, on Saturday 5th March, Pelé and Cantona will be visiting Courts Megastore where customers can attend an autograph session with the legends. Another exciting highlight of this partnership is the opportunity for Courts customers to win an all-expenses paid trip to New York to watch the 40thAnniversary New York Cosmos match in June 2011. Check out press advertisements for qualifying details.
“I am delighted that our commercial team has secured a prestigious partnership with The New York Cosmos, particularly in bringing legends Pelé and Eric Cantona to Singapore. We see this as an early reinforcement of our commitment to the Courts Young Lions and Project Tribe as well as providing world-class in-store experiences for our shoppers,” said Terry O’Connor, CEO of Courts.
“Courts’ commitment to the future of the sport and developing and attracting young talent is very complementary to the mission of The New York Cosmos,” says Paul Kemsley, Chairman, The New York Cosmos. “We look forward to arriving into Singapore – to bring this partnership to life and to let all the passionate fans over there know that The New York Cosmos are back.”
Courts and The New York Cosmos will further discuss a collaboration opportunity for a potential match to be played in Singapore later this year or early next year – featuring players from around the world invited by Pelé and Cantona to participate in an all-star competition.
Related articles
- Eric Cantona Becomes New York Cosmos Director Of Soccer (bleacherreport.com)
- Cantona takes New York Cosmos job (news.bbc.co.uk)
Bring back The Cosmos, Red Bull is a bore.