Europe’s most prestigious sponsorship awards is shaping up to be a celebration of creativity, cooperative synergy and inclusivity after the shortlist was released for the 2025 ESA Awards in partnership with Pearlfinders.
For the second consecutive year, a record number of entries has underscored the value and prestige of winning an ESA Award, with a 17% increase from 2024 to 2025 resulting in a shortlist that is packed with quality and variety.
It is also packed with Irish entries and from members of the Sport for Business community.
Among the Irish and Sport for Business Member shortlisted entries are:
Agency of the Year
Legacy Communications
Teneo Sports Advisory
Event of the Year Sponsored by Sport for Business member Wasserman)
Aer Lingus College Football Classic 2024
IDA Ireland and Bloomberg’s New Economy Gateway Event
Paddy Power Comedy Festival
Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon
The Smirnoff Collective Stage
Rights Holder of the Year
Olympic Federation of Ireland
Ryder Cup Europe
Best Use of Content
Allianz X Inner Drive
PTSB The Human Behind the Athlete
Guinness Reignites Rugby Passion with L’0.0 Opportunité’
Best Use of Cutting Edge Technology
AIB Meet the Toughest Content Series
Sky Broadband and Guild Esports Fortnite Sky City
Best Use of Measurement and Insight
How Allianz Ireland Found a Win-Win for Brand and Culture
Sky Believe in Better Insight
Best Use of PR
Electric Ireland GAA and Camogie All Ireland Minor Championships Campaign
PTSB – The Human Behind the Athlete
Best Use of Talent
Aer Lingus and Irish Rugby
Allianz X Inner Drive
PTSB – The Human Behind the Athlete
Environmentally Sustainable Partnership
Change the Course by KPMG
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Sponsorship
Aer Lingus: Proudly Supporting Paralympics Ireland
SSE Airtricity: Uniting Football and Inclusivity
Cairn Community Games – We’re All In
Sky Broadband & Guild Esports: Women in Gaming
Smirnoff – Everyone is Invited
Media Sponsorship
Cadbury – A supporter and a half of Republic of Ireland WNT
Music Sponsorship
Bank of Ireland Carnival Quarter
Bulmers Sounds from the Secret Orchard
Three City Stages
Lovely Summer for a Guinness
The Smirnoff Collective Stage
Sponsorship with a Social Purpose
AIG – Inner City Golfer
Electric Ireland Darkness Into Light
Cairn Community Games We’re All In
Guinness ).) Making Moderation Aspirational
Sport Sponsorship
Allianz X Team Ireland
Change the Course by KPMG
Energia, Core and Irish Rugby, Think of the Possibilities
Flogas – The Energy Behind Team Ireland
PTSB – The Human Behind the Athlete
Sky and the Women’s National Team
Triton Lake and Irish Sevens: A High Performance Partnership
Guinness X Don’t Jinx It: Turning Superstition Into Success
Taking Lidl to the Top
SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
Just shy of 50 shortlisted entries. Ireland and the Sport for Business membership, take a bow.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
The Awards ceremony will take place on 13 March 2025 at The Brewery in London, and tables and tickets can now be purchased with an early bird discount available until 3 January.
BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE FOR THE SPORTING YEAR AHEAD 2025
Member and Limited number of Non-Member Tickets available
The Sport for Business Membership comprises nearly 300 organisations, including all the leading sports and sponsors, as well as commercial and state agencies.
