Concacaf, the governing body of football in the Caribbean, North America and Central America, and the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) have today (Wednesday) awarded the contract to market and service the commercial rights to the 2016 Copa América Centenario national team tournament to the IMG agency and Soccer United Marketing.
The decision, which was ratified by the tournament’s executive committee, followed a new Request for Proposal process for the anniversary edition of the Copa América in the United States. The process was launched in October.
The combined bid from IMG and SUM, the commercial arm of North America’s Major League Soccer, was selected from 12 responses based on criteria including: proposed financial models, the bidder’s reputation, responsiveness, capabilities, resources, experience in the field, and preparedness to move quickly to market and service the rights.
The new procedure came after Concacaf in October followed Conmebol in ending its commercial rights partnership with the Datisa joint venture company in relation to the Copa América Centenario.
Three of the main shareholders in Datisa were among those indicted by the US in May during the crackdown on corruption in world football. The US indictment said the three men conspired to win and retain lucrative media rights contracts from regional football federations through the payment of up to $110m (€104m) in bribes. The three – Alejandro Burzaco, Hugo Jinkis and his son Mariano Jinkis – are all Argentine citizens.
Commenting on the award of the rights to IMG and SUM, Concacaf president Alfredo Hawit said: “We are proud of the RFP process embarked upon and the large interest it attracted in the marketplace. Involving global brands and worldwide broadcasters will ensure that soccer fans from around the globe will enjoy what we expect to be a once in a lifetime event.”
Juan Angel Napout, Conmebol president, added: “This is the first time that Conmebol has played a part in this type of RFP process – which we will continue to implement in the future, starting in 2016. This commitment is an integral part of the governance reforms taking place at Conmebol in order to ensure transparency and benefit to all our member associations.”
ESP Properties, a division of WPP, and SJX Partners, a division of CSM Sports and Entertainment, will assist IMG and SUM with sponsorship sales for the Copa América Centenario.
The worldwide commercial rights for the tournament include: sponsorship (rights and services), broadcast rights, broadcast services, and limited digital rights. The RFP was sent to more than 40 potential proposing organisations, and was open to both international and local agencies.
Organisers last month confirmed that the Copa América Centenario will be held from June 3-26 in 10 American cities. The host metropolitan areas and respective stadiums are: Boston (Gillette Stadium), Chicago (Soldier Field), Houston (NRG Stadium), Los Angeles (Rose Bowl), New York (MetLife Stadium), Orlando (Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium), Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field), Phoenix (University of Phoenix Stadium), San Francisco (Levi’s Stadium) and Seattle (CenturyLink Field).
The 2016 Copa América Centenario will be the centennial edition of the tournament and is being staged outside South America for the first time. The tournament will feature six teams from Concacaf and all 10 teams from Conmebol.
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