It is one of the longest-running partnerships in Irish sport and one of the biggest renewals to be confirmed this year.
Allianz Ireland has announced a five-year extension of its partnership with the GAA as title sponsor of the Allianz Football and Hurling Leagues.
The renewed agreement going all the way to the 2025 season sees Allianz’ sponsorship of the competition span 33 years, making the insurance provider the longest committed supporter of the GAA.
Allianz is the insurer of Croke Park as well as 2,200 GAA clubs around the country to further embed themselves and support the GAA community.
It is also the largest insurer of schools in Ireland and, since 1993, Allianz has supported children in every county in Ireland to play Gaelic Games through their sponsorship of Allianz Cumann na mBunscol.
Courage
Since the beginning of this month, the company has also featured the GAA as part of its mainstream TV and other media advertising through the Courage Vs Fear campaign.
To coincide with the campaign, Allianz launched a new GAA special offer where all club members and supporters can avail of exclusive discounts on their Allianz home and motor insurance. Allianz will also make a donation to their local club when they purchase or renew a policy as part of the offer.
Together the various strands combine into a great example of how a partnership works both ways in terms of driving business as well as supporting sport.
“Allianz is a global organisation with 140,000 staff providing insurance products and services to over 92 million customers in more than 70 countries,” said Sean McGrath, CEO of Allianz Ireland speaking at the announcement in the company offices overlooking Dublin Bay.
Peers
“Allianz is aligned with globally renowned organisations like the Olympics, Paralympics, Bayern Munich and St Andrews Golf Club to name a few, and yet it is our local partnership with the GAA that is consistently recognised by our global peers.”
“Like the GAA, Allianz is proud of our heritage and of the contribution we have made, and continue to make, to the lives of the people of Ireland. Both organisations enable and instil courage, be it on the pitch, the stands or in everyday life. This is just one of the many reasons why Allianz and the GAA are so well matched and why we are committing to another five years bringing our partnership with the GAA to 33 years, the longest of any sponsor of the GAA.”
“I’m delighted to confirm that the partnership between the GAA and Allianz will be extended by five more years meaning our relationship now extends to more than three decades,” added GAA President John Horan.
“Over that period of time the Allianz Leagues have been transformed from a competition that once started before Christmas to one that now illuminates the spring months through the quality of our games which come thick and fast. Alllianz’ role in helping us to promote and highlight the competitions, and by extension Gaelic games, is highly valued.”
“Of course, their commitment to the GAA extends far beyond the county game and I would like to laud their support of Cumann na mBuncsol, a network that launches the playing careers of so many of our young hopefuls.”
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Image Credit: Brendan Moran, Sportsfile
