Paris, France – The Première Division de Handball is to be renamed the LIDL STARLIGUE from the start of the new championship in September 2016 and for the next four seasons. The new naming rights partner of the Ligue Nationale de Handball (LNH), the European grocery company LIDL, will benefit from logo visibility on the players' jersey sleeves as well as wide reaching exposure on site. The brand will receive exposure in camera view through LED advertising, on-court stickers and branded interview backdrops across all clubs in the LIDL STARLIGUE. The partnership was brokered by Infront Sports & Media, the official marketing partner of the Ligue Nationale de Handball.
Philippe Bernat-Salles, President of the LNH commented: “Since it was established, the LNH has endeavoured to strengthen the recognition of handball. Beyond the results of our clubs, their structure and increasing media exposure, this is achieved through the signature under an important partnership. It is in this spirit, Infront enabled us to get involved with LIDL. This is a great brand, aspiring to be recognized as a major player in the retail market, just as our league has been recognised as a major player in French sport.”
Jean-François Jeanne, Managing Director of Infront France said: “Infront is a major player in the world of handball both internationally and in France with strategic partnerships with the EHF, the French Handball Federation, the Ligue Nationale de Handball and the IHF World Men's Handball Championship which will be taking place in France in January 2017. Being convinced that Handball offers its partners exceptional transfer of positive image attributes, it's natural that since its creation, Infront has been at the side of the Ligue Nationale de Handball. The platform offers advertisers a channel for high profile global communications.
Infront supports the marketing of Ligue Nationale de Handball competitions, including the Championnat de France, the Trophée des Champions and the Coupe de la Ligue. In this context, Infront has worked in recent months to support the Ligue Nationale de Handball in search of a naming partner that is aligned with the goals and values of the LNH and its flagship championship. LIDL has quickly established itself as the ideal naming rights partner for one of the country’s leading sporting events, which simultaneously meets the geographical spread of LIDL retail outlets in France.”
Infront Sports & Media is the most respected sports marketing company in the world, managing a comprehensive portfolio of top properties. Led by President & CEO Philippe Blatter, Infront covers all aspects of successful sporting events – including distribution of media rights, sponsorship, media production and event operation – and has won a reputation for its high standards of delivery. As the number one player in winter sport and with a leading role in football, summer and endurance sports, Infront enjoys long-lasting partnerships with 170 rights-holders and hundreds of sponsors and media companies. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, Infront has a team of more than 900 experienced staff working from over 35 offices across more than 15 countries, delivering 4,100 event days of top class sport around the world every year. The French subsidiary is led by Managing Director Jean-François Jeanne. In November 2015, Infront was integrated into Wanda Sports Holding, part of the Chinese conglomerate the Dalian Wanda Group.