Pitch to work on Chelsea business

by David Quainton, PR Week UK 25-Oct-07, 10:01

Chelsea Football Club has brought in sports specialist Pitch PR as it looks to develop new revenue streams.

The trade and consumer PR brief will see Pitch promote ‘key areas of Chelsea FC’s non-football businesses’ including function suites within the club’s Stamford Bridge ground. Pitch will also run consumer campaigns for Stamford Bridge stadium tours and ‘the True Blue’ membership scheme.

Next month, the club plans to launch a broadband internet offering.

‘The appointment of Pitch demonstrates our intent to develop our non-match day business beyond its already strong position,’ said Chelsea comms and public affairs director Simon Greenberg.

‘The agency will provide some valuable additional resource to our marketing efforts for Chelsea’s commercial interests outside of our core football business.

The move does not affect Chelsea’s relationships with the London Communications Agency and Stuart Higgins Communications.

In 2006-07 Chelsea recorded a £153m income, while Arsenal is estimated to have raked in a record £200m, primarily secured through match receipts at its £430m new stadium.