Leading sports retailer Sun & Sand Sports has announced a strategic retail and wholesale partnership with Manchester City Football Club.  

The partnership with the 2013/14 Barclays Premier League Champions, who reclaimed their second Premiership title in three seasons, includes City Stores and dedicated  Manchester City concession spaces within selected Sun & Sand Sports stores throughout the UAE.

On the deal, Mohammad A Baker, Gulf Marketing Group deputy chairman, said, “Football is very close to the heart of consumers in the Middle East. With the fantastic Premier League victory for Manchester City and the visit of the team this week, we were proud to bring the fans closer to the action by welcoming Samir Nasri, Matija Nastasic and Stevan Jovetic to our Marina Mall store on Tuesday”.  

On behalf of Manchester City Football Club Tom Glick, the chief commercial officer said: "We are looking forward to a strong partnership with Sun & Sand Sports to operate City Stores and create Manchester City concession areas across the Sun & Sand Sports store network."

"The club was also delighted to welcome so many fans to the Sun & Sand Sports store, Marina Mall, on Tuesday to meet some of the players and to see the Barclays Premier League and Capital One Cup trophies," he added.

The partnership is part of Sun & Sand Sports’ wider strategic plan which includes the completion of 43 new store openings across the GCC during its current financial year, marking its most significant annual expansion to date and bringing its regional portfolio to more than 200 stores.

The expansion will include the launch of 14 new Sun & Sand Sports stores during the 2013-2014 financial year in addition to six Sun & Sand Sports KIDS stores.-TradeArabia News Service