United strike Chevrolet shirt deal - Football
Published: 30 Jul 2012 - 16:17:07
Manchester United have announced a seven-year shirt sponsorship deal with General Motors.
Chevrolet, the club's official car partner, will become only the fifth shirt sponsor in the club's 134-year history from the 2014-2015 season, in an agreement that has been signed for an undisclosed amount.
United's commercial director, Richard Arnold, told the club's official website, www.manutd.com: "This is a fantastic, long-term deal for the club. We have been partners with Chevrolet for only six weeks, but already they have produced some fantastic ideas that will benefit both the partnership and our 659 million followers around the world."
Arnold added: "They are a key partner on our current tour and I know they have enjoyed experiencing the buzz generated by our fanatical support and the sell-out crowds in South Africa, China, and Europe.
"It is a great thrill for those of us who work with partners all year round when an existing partner steps up to being one of our principal partners. This commitment to United and its fans will bring real benefits to everyone who cares about the club."
Chevrolet will replace Aon, whose partnership with United began in the 2010/11 season.
Alan Batey, General Motors' North America vice-president, US sales and service, said: "We are extremely proud to connect our brand, Chevrolet, with Manchester United and its passionate supporters all around the world.
"Manchester United's statistics are impressive, but this relationship goes far beyond the numbers - this relationship is about connecting our brand with the deep-seated emotion that surrounds the team everywhere it goes.
"When you consider the core values of Chevrolet, our passionate customers around the world, and our rich 100-year history, the partnership with Manchester United is a perfect fit.
"And, to be only the fifth name on the iconic red jersey is a genuine honour. We very much look forward to the road ahead and the opportunities we have in partnering with such a legendary club."
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NY comptroller says MTA sided with Apple for Grand Central Store - Reuters UK
NEW YORK, July 30 |
NEW YORK, July 30 (Reuters) - New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority gave Apple Inc an inside advantage landing a lease for the technology company's store in Grand Central Terminal, according to an audit New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released Monday.
The MTA for more than a year worked behind the scenes exclusively with Apple on the lease before issuing a request for proposals, the state comptroller's office said, citing its auditor's' report. That resulted in only one response, and that was from Apple, the state comptroller's office said.
"While Apple may turn out to be a good tenant, the MTA set a troubling precedent when it played favorites and gave Apple a competitive edge over others for the Grand Central space," DiNapoli said in a statement. "Apple was directly involved in setting the terms of the lease and given exclusive access to information more than a year before any other vendor knew the Grand Central location was available."
Apple, based in Cupertino, California, signed a $2 million agreement with the former tenant, Metrazur, to vacate its space five days before the MTA issued the RFP, the comptroller said.
The MTA shot back calling the audit "not fact-based" and its conclusions "worthless," and questioning the department's ability to opine on real estate deals.
"The Comptroller's audit staff clearly has no understanding of how high-profile commercial real estate works, given the shockingly inaccurate and clearly biased audit they issued. The MTA's lease process with Apple was open, transparent and followed both the spirit and letter of the law," Joseph Lhota, MTA chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement.
Auditors at the comptroller's office examined the Apple lease while completing a follow-up audit of the MTA's real estate practices. They found that only two of 12 recommendations from the 2010 audit had been fully implemented.
DiNapoli is recommending a statutory change to increase oversight of public authority contracts exceeding one million dollars. "Because the MTA lease to Apple was purportedly a competitive process, it was not eligible for the Comptroller's review before it was finalized," the comptroller's office said.
Michaela Wilkinson, an Apple spokeswoman, declined comment. (Reporting by Ilaina Jonas; Editing by Gary Hill)
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