February 1 – New MLS franchise Inter Miami CF that will start play in 2020 has picked KIN Partners in London as its exclusive sponsorship sales representation agency.

KIN, headed by 19 Entertainment’s former SVP, Simon Oliveira and CAA’s Senior Executive, Matthew Kay, recently expanded operations to Miami, and have worked extensively within David Beckham’s business projects and sponsorships. Beckham is a key stakeholder in Inter Miami CF whose franchise was awarded on the back of a playing deal with the MLS that gave him the option to buy a club.

The move is a smart one for Inter Miami FC who have also hired Jurgen Mainke (formerly CONCACAF marketing supremo and assistant GS) as their Chief Business Officer, a smart move as he was a key executive in holding Concacaf’s commercial programme together while they came out of the 2015 corruption scandal in the region.

KIN will be responsible for identifying and developing sponsorship opportunities for the club.

“We are delighted to be appointed as the exclusive commercial representative of Inter Miami CF. Miami is recognised as a global city with a mix of wonderful cultures and we cannot wait to start working with both the vastly impressive ownership group and one of the most exciting properties in world sports today,” said Kay.

Top tier professional football has struggled to take off in Miami which has a huge football supporter base but has struggled to unify that support behind a single club brand. Inter Miami FC’s approach looks like it will be more globally expansive.

“As an organization that has the opportunity to provide a unique Miami value proposition though the world’s game, we are extremely happy to welcome KIN Partners to help us develop tailor-made solutions for our commercial associates.”

Inter Miami FC will play at 25,000-seat stadium at “Miami Freedom Park’, a $1 billion commercial and soccer stadium complex that will also house an exterior amphitheatre and 23 acres of public football pitches, a hotel and shopping mall.

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