Burnley FC and Sports Interactive have entered into a “new strategic partnership”. This provides for perimeter advertising and activities as well as competitions. Whether there will also be an impact on Football Manager was not communicated.
With former Hamburg and long-time ManCity anchor Vincent Kompany, Burnley FC recently achieved direct promotion back to the Premier League. When the Clarets kick off the new season in the English top flight against Manchester City at home to Turf Moor on Friday, advertisements for Football Manager will be displayed above the boards. It is part of a “new strategic partnership” between the club and developer Sports Interactive (SI).
The deal announced covers this season and next, and also provides for “a range of exciting promotions and competitions on digital and social platforms” that the Clarets and the studio will work on together. It was not communicated whether this means the club will remain licensed in-game. Last year, all EFL clubs were faithfully depicted, but it is questionable whether Burnley will not fall out of this grid after promotion. In response to an eSports enquiry, the developer says that all licensing will not be announced until September.
Company’s blitz championship caused a stir
“The club caught everyone’s eye last season under Championship Manager of the Year – Vincent Kompany – playing brilliant football and winning the championship in record time. “Working with the club has been a pleasure from the start and we are looking forward to seeing the ‘Football Manager’ branding in the stadium for the first game of the season on Friday night against another long-standing SI partner, Manchester City,” said Richard Trafford, head of partnerships and business development at Sports Interactive.
Not yet officially announced, but based on experience, Football Manager 2024 should be released in the autumn. As studio director Miles Jacobson announced a few weeks ago, this part will be “the last of its kind”. From 2025 onwards, there will be major changes – first and foremost a new engine
