Press release -
ALLIANZ AND SARACENS ANNOUNCE LANDMARK RUGBY SPONSORSHIP
Allianz adds the Allianz Park to its Family of Stadiums following a partnership with Saracens Rugby Club
Allianz, one of the leading financial services providers worldwide and Saracens rugby club have entered into a long-term partnership agreement that represents a landmark for club rugby in England. Allianz will become the main club sponsor and the innovative north Londonclub’s new home ground in Hendon will be named AllianzPark.
Clement B. Booth, Member of the Board of Management, Allianz Group said:
“Saracens and Allianz are an excellent fit and I am excited about the potential the partnership brings for us both. For example, the club shares Allianz’s strong corporate social responsibility ethos. The work Saracens does with the local community is particularly impressive.”
Booth added:
“Sport is an international language that brings together people from all walks of life. This is why Allianz is heavily involved in sport sponsorship around the world. AllianzParkis the latest member in the worldwide Allianz Family of Stadiums joining the Allianz Arena in our company’s home town of Munich, the Allianz Stadium in Sydneyand the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice.
“I am convinced that this partnership of all major Allianz entities in theUKwill certainly help to raise Allianz’ profile and brand recognition in theUK. There is also a strong emotional aspect to being the naming rights partner of a sport stadium – for a non-tangible brand like Allianz, it quickly becomes the “home of the brand” and a place of corporate pride for our employees.”
Nigel Wray, chairman of Saracens, said: “We are delighted to welcome Allianz as a long-term partner not only because they are a company with an outstanding international reputation, but also because they are an organisation which shares our core values and principles. Over the past three years, the club has made outstanding progress in terms of team performance on the field, building a strong global profile and securing a home ground. We are now starting to realise our commercial potential. This deal represents a massive step forward for Saracens.”
Saracens are established as one of the leading professional rugby clubs inEngland, having reached the Premiership play-offs in each of the past three seasons, becoming champions in 2011. Last season, Saracens were the only English club to reach the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup, and the squad has been strengthened by the signing ofEnglandwinger, Chris Ashton and Springbok, Alistair Hargreaves.
Allianz Park, hitherto known as the Copthall stadium, will become a unique venue for Premiership rugby, athletics and community sport. Incorporating an artificial turf pitch and an indoor training area, the new stadium will become a genuine community sports hub, used every day of the year and made available free of charge to local schools.
On Saracens match days, Allianz Park will combine the very latest technology in giant screens, sound systems and wireless technology with a traditional warm rugby welcome to create one of the most comfortable and spectator-friendly stadiums in European rugby.
Ends.
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1. Allianz Group Sports Sponsorship Programme
The Allianz Group supports top-class sporting events at both the national and international levels. For example
The Allianz Arena in Germany and the Family of Stadiums
The Allianz Arena isGermany’s best-known football stadium and recently hosted the European Champions League final between FC BayernMunichandChelsea. Allianz has been partner to this stadium since its opening in 2005, and is proud that the venue is extremely modern, both from a customer-friendliness and safety point of view. There are special support systems for people in a wheelchair or for blind fans.
In February 2012, the Sydney Football Stadium was officially renamed Allianz Stadium. The stadium is an internationally recognised sports and entertainment facility which caters for hundreds of thousands of spectators who come to see Rugby League, Rugby Union, Football and concerts.
On 23 July 2012, it was announced that the future sports stadium in Nice will be called the Allianz Riviera. The stadium will have a 45,000-seat capacity in concert layout and will host several matches in the Euro 2016 championships. The stadium will also offer an extensive and varied program with sporting and cultural events, concerts and shows and will be home to the National Sports Museum.
Formula OneTM
Allianz has been involved in Formula OneTM motor racing since 2000 and the company stepped up a gear in 2007 to become “Global Partner of Formula1”. For the world’s largest car insurer in the world, F1 is an excellent platform to reach millions of motor fans throughout the season with the “Drive Safely” message. Allianz is the first company to have branded the Safety and Medical Car in F1.
Paralympics
Allianz is the first International Partner of the Paralympic Movement and supports athletes all over the world on their way to the Paralympics. There are currently ten Allianz cooperations with National Paralympic Committees. Working with Paralympic athletes is highly motivational, and Allianz brings them into the organization regularly to meet staff, agents or clients.
Golf
In 2009 Allianz agreed a unique, global partnership with St Andrews Links Trust, also known as the ‘Home of Golf‘. Golf has been played at the Links on the east coast of Scotland for 600 years, and the courses have been the setting for some of the sport’s most memorable moments. Allianz also works with a number of top professional golfers, including Ryder Cup winner, Paul McGinley.
2. Allianz in the UK
The sponsorship deal with Saracens involves the following Allianz Group companies based in theUK:
Allianz Insurance, Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty, Mondial Assistance (shortly becoming Allianz Global Assistance), Allianz Global Investors and Euler Hermes.
In the UK, Allianz Group companies:
- employ approximately 6,700 people
- achieve £2.5bn of gross written premium
- have assets under management on behalf ofUKclients of approximately £68bn
3. About the Allianz Group
Allianz was founded in Munich in 1890 (nearly 125 years ago).
Together with its customers and sales partners, Allianz is one of the strongest financial communities. Around 78 million private and corporate customers rely on Allianz's knowledge, global reach, capital strength and solidity to help them make the most of financial opportunities and to avoid and safeguard themselves against risks.
In 2011, around 142,000 employees in some 70 countries achieved total revenue of 103.6 billion euros and an operating profit of 7.9 billion euros. Benefits for our customers reached 86.5 billion euros. This business success with insurance, asset management and assistance services is based increasingly on customer demand for crisis-proof financial solutions for an ageing society and the challenges of climate change. Transparency and integrity are key components of sustainable corporate governance at Allianz SE.
