AFL Aussie rules football team Port Adelaide has entered into a partnership with Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific.
The deal names Cathay Pacific as a premier partner and the official international airline partner of Port Adelaide. The length of the agreement was not disclosed but the deal will at least cover the 2017 AFL season.
The partnership strengthens Port Adelaide’s position in the Asian market, with the club set to face off against the Gold Coast Suns in Shanghai, China on May 14 next year.
The Premiership game, which will take place at Shanghai’s Jiangwan Stadium, will mark the first time a major sports league has staged a regular-season encounter in China.
Cathay Pacific general manager for South West Pacific, Nelson Chin, said: “Australian football in China is something that has enormous potential, and we see a partnership with Port Adelaide as a logical fit for us to support and grow sporting, cultural and business links between Australia and Hong Kong and China.
“We’ve been serving Adelaide for over 20 years and this partnership really demonstrates our commitment to the city. We’re looking forward to helping stage the game in Shanghai in May next year.”
In October, mining group Ausgold agreed a deal with Port Adelaide to sponsor the team’s historic game in China. Ausgold will hold match-day sponsorship rights and will also serve as the primary backer of Port Adelaide’s ‘Open to the World’ campaign in 2017.