Leading web development platform Wix.com and City Football Group (CFG) have today announced their new global partnership which sees Wix become CFG’s Official Website Design & Hosting partner for their clubs Manchester City FC, New York City FC and Melbourne City FC.
Wix.com will first collaborate with Manchester City FC engaging with fans across the Club’s digital channels including their website and extensive range of social media networks. The Wix brand will also have a presence on matchdays at the Etihad Stadium appearing on the Club’s pitchside LEDs during Barclays Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup games.
The partnership officially kicks off on 17 February with the release of an online video featuring Manchester City FC players Pablo Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Nicolas Otamendi and Raheem Sterling. In the video the players can be seen building a Wix website dedicated to the fans and the chants they love as former professional footballer and pundit, Chris Kamara, commentates on every click. The video also served as inspiration for the creation of an all new Wix website ‘Sing Loud, Sing Proud’ where Manchester City fans can listen to some of their favourite chants, and later on upload their very own renditions of the City songs they love.
The partnership will give Wix.com users and fans of all three CFG clubs the chance to win hospitality tickets to selected fixtures as well as “money can’t buy” experiences that range from attending first team training sessions to joining the teams for away games.
Wix and CFG will work collaboratively to regularly enhance their partnership to give fans greater opportunities to engage with both Wix’s innovative website design platform and with the clubs they support year in and year out. The first fan engagement activity is due to launch within the next week and will involve fans creating their own videos to feature on Sergio Aguero’s official website created in partnership with Wix.
“Working with a globally recognized football brand like CFG is part of our overall strategy to use the power of sport to reach worldwide audiences with our brand. We have seen great success advertising in the NFL’s Super Bowl, and now we’re looking to expand to the most popular sport in the world – football,” commented Omer Shai, Wix.com Chief Marketing Officer. “The partnership with CFG is a natural one as our two brands share values and vision, and we’re confident it will boost the Wix brand amongst the massive fan bases of all three clubs.”
Echoing Shai’s sentiments, Omar Berrada, Group Commercial Director for City Football Marketing, which brokers City Football Group’s commercial partnerships, said:
“We are excited to announce our new partnership with Wix, who offer a unique website design and hosting platform that reflects City Football Group’s passion for creating an innovative and engaging product. This partnership will not only introduce our clubs’ global fan bases to an easily accessible online tool, but will also provide them with increased opportunities to get closer than ever to all the on the pitch and behind the scenes action taking place across Manchester City FC, New York City FC and Melbourne City FC.”
