Manchester United shirt sponsor Snapdragon want club to tour India: Report

The US-based firm is also keen to buy the naming rights of Old Trafford.

Manchester United shirt sponsor Snapdragon wants the club to tour India for the first time and is also interested in buying the stadium’s naming rights. The US technology firm signed a deal with the club last summer worth $225 million (£176 million) in shirt deals. 

Snapdragon’s chief marketing officer, Don McGuire, has commented that India and China could be the club’s future pre-season tour destinations due to the reach of Snapdragon and its San Diego-headquartered parent company, Qualcomm.  He has revealed that both nations are one of the biggest marketing countries and further said: 

“We’d like them to take it around the world and share the love,” he said. “We’d love for them to play in China and India.”

The US-based company wants to have more influence at the club besides shirt sales and feels they can get the naming rights of United’s stadium. McGuire feels the deal may be possible despite United have never sold their stadium naming rights.

The club are considering expanding Old Trafford, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who owns a minority stake at the club and is driving the project, wants to know the club’s decision on it by December. 

Snapdragon has previously bought the naming rights of stadiums such as San Diego, where United played Real Betis this month, and Wrexham last year. The playing surface there is named Bashor Field. 

McGuire said: “Old Trafford is Old Trafford, it should always be Old Trafford [or whatever any new stadium name is]. But if there is a brand attached to that in some way shape or form, powered by someone, an ‘at’ or whatever [it could happen]. For example, this is the Snapdragon Stadium at Bashor Field.

“We are working very closely with the team on the reimagination of Old Trafford from a technology and innovation standpoint. And Carrington [the training base]. So if that leads to something bigger, where it would make sense for us to go even bigger – this [shirt sponsorship] is pretty big by the way, not inexpensive – we are always looking out for opportunities.”

McGuire also said that it will bring new experiences for the fans and innovation. ”Fan experiences, connectivity, stadium operations like retail, point of sale, ticket in and out,” McGuire said. “How fans can engage while in the stadium with different experiences, whether through augmented reality or through their smartphones or devices. And then making them a more state-of-the-art club.”

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