Kieran Maguire: Aston Villa may have just agreed new deal with lifelong fan
Aston Villa have struck a commercial deal with a company whose owners are likely lifelong fans of the club.
That is the view of finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the club’s new deal with Wallsall-based company Homeserve.
Villa announced last Wednesday (27 July) that they had embarked on a partnership with the independently-owned furniture repairs and insurance provider.
Villa’s chief commercial officer Nicola Ibbetson said she was “delighted that Aston Villa have partnered with a local company, helping us to strengthen our ties with the local community.”
The club trousered £26.1million from sponsorship and other commercial ventures in the last recorded financial year.
Maguire suggests that their latest deal with Homeserve may have been driven by supporters of the club within the organisation.
“All clubs should remember their roots,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“It reminds the fanbase that the club is a Birmingham-based club despite its aspirations to go global.
“It is beneficial for the sponsors as well. They are likely Villa fans with this sort of deal. That tends to be what we see with these local deals.
“That means they are more likely to turn up to the less glamorous games where it is harder to sell hospitality packages because of the opposition.”
Villa will see an upswing in commercial and matchday revenue when they complete their stadium revamp project.
Capacity is set to be boosted by around 7,000 to 50,000 as part of plans given the nod by local government.
In other news, Gabby Agbonlahor tips Aston Villa to axe Tyrone Mings after confirmed news.