Heineken has become the first official sponsor of Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami (Inter Miami), the Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchise co-owned by David Beckham.
The long-term partnership makes the Dutch brewing company the official beer and first founding partner of the club.
Under the agreement, Heineken will benefit from signage, intellectual property rights, and retail activations starting at Fort Lauderdale’s Lockhart Stadium in 2020.
Jonnie Cahill, chief marketing officer at Heineken, said: “After much anticipation and excitement around the return of MLS to South Florida, we are thrilled to play a role as Inter Miami CF’s first official partner, and look forward to celebrating many future firsts together.
“We are known worldwide as a devoted soccer brand, and through this partnership, we can’t wait to provide soccer fans across South Florida with the premium experience – and beer – they have come to expect from Heineken for years to come.”
Inter Miami was confirmed as the MLS’s 25th franchise in January 2018 and will kick off its inaugural season next year, with plans to play its first two campaigns in Fort Lauderdale, while it works on its permanent home in Miami.
Inter Miami submitted a draft lease agreement for its Miami Freedom Park project in June. The draft agreement entered to the City of Miami included the 25,000-seat stadium, along with what will be one of the city’s largest public parks and a tech hub, among other components.
The club hopes to move into its new stadium by 2021, but has proposed to play at Lockhart Stadium for the 2020 and 2021 MLS seasons, until the Freedom Park stadium opens.
Jurgen Mainka, chief business officer at Inter Miami, said: “Our goal at Inter Miami CF is to provide the best possible experience to our fans. With Heineken we have an excellent partner who not only shares our vision and passion for the sport but also understands the importance of being a community-first organisation who engages directly with our core audience.
“We are proud to welcome Heineken as the founding partner of our growing Inter Miami CF family and look forward to making history together as we kick off our first season in MLS.”
Image: Inter Miami
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