Etihad Soars as New Sponsor for Defending IPL Champions Chennai Super Kings

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways announced a major sponsorship deal with Indian Premier League (IPL) titans Chennai Super Kings on Thursday. The agreement makes Etihad the official sponsor for the defending IPL champions CSK ahead of the 2024 season.The deal was unveiled at a gathering in Chennai attended by top officials from both organizations.

Chennai players will display the new Etihad logo on the back of their jerseys as they joined Etihad cabin crew members on stage.Etihad’s Chief Revenue Officer Arik De stated that cricket is massively popular in India, so deepening ties with Chennai made great sense. “The investment we are announcing today is about CSK.

Cricket is a huge part of this country and strengthening that relationship is very important for us,” he remarked.De added that Etihad plans to unveil the partnership much like a Bollywood film, with new aspects and activations rolled out over time. Initial visibility will come through a hospitality suite at Chennai’s home stadium. Etihad will also sponsor the Chennai team shirts.

The airline executive explained that Etihad chose to link up with Chennai because both brands have won five major trophies. Chennai has claimed the IPL title five times since the tournament’s inception in 2008, while Etihad has won the Skytrax World Airline Award five times.Chennai Super Kings are one of the IPL’s most successful and popular franchises.

Led by legendary ex-India captain MS Dhoni, Chennai won their fifth IPL crown in 2023 against the Rajasthan Royals.Chennai have built their success on picking experienced players and giving them consistent opportunities. This strategy of valuing veterans over young talent has become a hallmark of the franchise.

Etihad has invested heavily in the Indian market since launching flights there 20 years ago. It currently operates 165 weekly flights connecting 10 Indian cities to over 70 destinations worldwide. Recent additions include new routes to Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram, plus increased daily services to Mumbai and Delhi.

The airline also signed Bollywood superstar Katrina Kaif as a brand ambassador days before inking the Chennai agreement.Etihad has invested in sports partnerships before, most prominently as shirt sponsor for English football giants Manchester City.

De said the Chennai deal takes things to a new level.“Our collaboration goes beyond sponsorship; it’s a celebration of a shared ethos, a testament to the spirit of competition,” he asserted.Chennai will look to defend their IPL crown when the 2024 season gets underway in late March. With a new high-flying sponsor on board, the Super Kings appear in great shape to claim a record-extending sixth title.