In what is a massive coup for GAA in the county, Dublin GAA have signed a five-year sponsorship deal with multi-national insurance giant AIG in a deal believed to be worth €2million.
With their association with Vodafone coming to an end this year, the Dubs had been on the lookout for a new sponsor and they have found one in insurance giant AIG, who currently sponsor the All-Blacks and also sponsored Manchester United in the past.
AIG will sponsor all Dublin Gaelic Football and hurling teams at all levels and for the first time ever, the ladies football and camogie teams will also come under the one sponsorship umbrella. The agreement is believed to be worth as much as €2million to Dublin GAA and comes into effect on November 1, 2013.
Commenting on the agreement with AIG, Dublin GAA County Board Chairman Andy Kettle said: “This sponsorship deal is a really significant boost to everyone associated with Dublin GAA. The strength of the Dublin brand is illustrated by our ability to negotiate this outstanding sponsorship in a depressed economic market.
“AIG is a blue chip organisation with a proven track record in sponsorship and they are going to be an exceptional partner and they fully understand what we are trying to achieve in Dublin.
“The sponsorship revenue is critical in helping towards our expenditure on club coaching programmes and inter-county teams at all levels. AIG is also finalising their sponsorship activation plans which will promote GAA in the capital at all levels. We are very much looking forward to working closely with AIG over the next five years to ensure this partnership is mutually beneficial.
“This is an exciting time for Dublin GAA on and off the pitch. We have won the All-Ireland senior football title for the second time in three years and won our first Leinster senior hurling title since 1961 and have significantly increased underage participation levels in recent years. Attracting an organisation like AIG shows just how far we have come off the field.”