Swansea City set for massive sponsorship deal as plans for fans' village emerge

Wales Online

6 days ago

Swansea City set for massive sponsorship deal as plans for fans' village emerge
The Swans chief was in attendance at the latest Fan Forum
Swansea City chief executive officer (CEO) Tom Gorringe is excited by the club's potential commercial opportunities
(Image: Huw Evans)
Swansea City CEO Tom Gorringe has told supporters the investment of Snoop Dogg and Luka Modric has left the club hopeful of landing commercial deals that will 'eclipse anything we've done in the past'.
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He also admits a 'Welcome to Wrexham' style documentary is something the club are considering as they look to further raise their profile.
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The arrival of hip-hop megastar Snoop Dogg, and Ballon d'Or winner Modric has already created a big buzz around the club this summer, with Gorringe previously admitting their involvement would help to take their commercial dealings up to the next level.
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Facing supporters at the recent Swansea City Fan Forum, Gorringe says having the pair on board has helped push the club into the gaze of new and exciting potential commercial partners, which he hopes will come as a big boost to City's revenue, and in turn make them more competitive on the pitch. Sign up to our Swansea City newsletter here.
"In terms of commercial opportunities, there's a huge opportunity for us to improve there," he said. "We've done a really good job of maximising what we could do on a local basis.
"But now the parameters have moved and it puts us in front of different companies, different brands and allows us to tell an authentic story to the people that we couldn't have been able to get in front of before.
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"We've already had discussions with brands about significant deals that would eclipse anything we've done in the past.
"So that is a core focus around what we're doing, with that in mind. Obviously we have to review where our current assets are and how we can utilise anything we've got in the stadium and, outside of that, to try and bring revenue to the football club.
"Ultimately that makes us more competitive of the pitch."
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Speculation has swirled that the club are set to follow the likes of Wrexham and Birmingham City in creating a new documentary to help further extend the club's reach to fresh audiences, and Gorringe admits it's one of several possibilities being considered.
"I've been asked that quite a lot," he said. "We've said all along the interest we're now attracting is providing opportunities.
"Documentaries will be one of those, but it's for us to consider the benefits of the opportunities, the commercial models and see if it's something we want to do.
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"I think now we're seeing that it's a saturated market as well, so if we were to do one, we would have to be true to us, it would have to be authentic to the club and the city, and not just a remake of what some other clubs are doing."
Another possible development is the creation of a fan village behind the south-east corner of the Swansea.com Stadium, with the club keen on extending the matchday experience for fans.
"We are looking into plans to renovate that area. We're looking into doing a fan village there.
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"I think I said it in the last fan forum. We struggle here from what I've seen in terms of timing of attendance. I think 72 per cent of fans arrive in the last hour before kick-off.
"I think that probably says we're not providing a great experience. I'm sure you'd spend a lot more time here if that was the case. Sign up to the Swansea City WhatsApp service to get breaking news and top stories sent to your phone.
"There's obviously limitations with the stadium in the way it's been built to really move the dial on that. But if we create new space that puts on a really good experience, it gives fans somewhere to congregate pre-match, and also enables us to do other things outside of matchdays."
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Meanwhile, Gorringe also confirmed the club have started the process in finding a replacement for Richard Morris, who recently left his post as head of commercial to join Brentford.
"It's an opportunity for us to reset that department and bring somebody in that's able to take us on that journey to attract growth, global brands, and to maximise the audience that we now present ourselves to.
"So hopefully we'll have some progress on that in the next few weeks."