Delta Air Lines has signed a historic deal with Birmingham City to become the football club’s official airline partner during the 2024/2025 season.
Under the agreement announced on September 16, 2024, Delta and Birmingham City will work together on “storytelling opportunities” and aim to promote the football club as a global sporting powerhouse.
The new partnership officially kicks off on September 16, 2024, as Birmingham City take on Ryan Reynold’s Wrexham AFC in a Sky Bet League One match live on television.
Birmingham City players’ shirts will feature Delta branding, and the airline’s identity will appear on the football club’s new digital screens and advertising boards at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.
Flying into matchday with a new partnership. ✈️
The Club is delighted to announce @Delta as its Official Airline Partner for the 2024-2025 season.
— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) September 16, 2024
The woman’s team will also promote the new partnership on their shirts during the Barclays Women’s Championship home clash against Portsmouth on September 22, 2024.
“We’re excited to welcome Delta to the Blues family. As we continue leveraging our resources to bring Birmingham City to a global audience, Delta’s vast network will help us connect our international fan bases and bring them and our team to new heights. Alongside world-class brands like UNDEFEATED and Nike, Delta shares our vision to elevate the club. This marks the beginning of a defining era in our nearly 150-year history,” Birmingham City Owner and Chairman, Tom Wagner, said.
Birmingham City currently play in the England’s second tier league which lies below the more lucrative and well-known Premier League.
In July 2023, Knighthead Capital Management made a significant investment in Birmingham City where an ambition was set for the club to become a “beacon of excellence” for the UK’s second biggest city on the global stage and return the team to England’s topflight league.
American Football legend and entrepreneur Tom Brady is also an investor in Birmingham City FC and advises on the board.
“Birmingham City Football Club is an important part of the fabric of England’s second-largest city. We’re excited to be part of the club’s storytelling as they work towards the highest levels of football,” said Delta’s Senior Vice president for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India, Matteo Curcio.
Knighthead has committed to creating a multi-billion-dollar Sports Quarter in East Birmingham, with the Football Club at the epicenter.
“Our owners are spearheading one of the country’s largest infrastructure projects, the Sports Quarter, here in East Birmingham. It will attract millions of visitors each year and many of them will choose to arrive on Delta planes. Birmingham, in partnership with Delta, is most definitely on the rise,” Birmingham City CEO, Garry Cook, said.
He added: “Delta is one of the world’s leading brands. Delta’s rally cry, “Keep Climbing”, resonates with the journey that Birmingham City is now on. Blues is going to be one of the most exciting stories in football in the next five years.”