La Liga lends a helping hand to Dubai Expo 2020 bid

Advertising hoardings across all 10 stadia carried Dubai’s message, including the big match of the weekend at the Bernabeu as Atletico Madrid toppled city rivals Real for the first time in the league in 14 years. 

Banners and flags also waved across the country before kick offs while both Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano went the whole hog, temporarily adopting the Dubai Expo 2020 logo as their shirt sponsor.

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta also showed his support for the promotion by tweeting a link to the Dubai Expo 2020 website.

La Liga’s support and promotion of Dubai’s bid comes shortly after the opening of their office in the emirate, the first of its kind anywhere outside Spain.

Seen as a way to bring the “La Liga experience closer to the fans”, the man heading up the operation here in Dubai, former Real Madrid defender Fernando Sanz, has backed league’s support of the Expo 2020 bid.

“These actions are done in favour of Dubai Expo 2020 and are meant to be a clear message of our commitment to our fans in the Arab world,” Sanz told Sport360°.

“They are also a sign of our determination to get involved in the development and global recognition to this part of the world.”

La Liga’s newly forged ties with the UAE follows hot on the heels of Real Madrid’s announcement of a five-year sponsorship deal with Dubai airline Emirates.

Aside from the commercial value and brand extension afford to Emirates, the commitment could also see the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Co play a friendly tournament on these shores during the winter break.

 

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