Microsoft and Wembley
US software giant Microsoft Corp announced a seven-figure sponsorship deal Thursday with the owners of the new Wembley Stadium.
The five-year deal makes Microsoft the stadium's first "founding partner," a title the stadium is reserving for only its largest sponsors and which comes loaded with perks.
Wembley, which is home of England's national soccer team, will be wired with the latest information technology from Microsoft as it enters the final stages of its ?757 million (US$1.3 billion) rebuild.
In return, Microsoft's logo will be seen by millions passing through the stadium's turnstiles when it reopens in May 2006, as the deal allows the company to place 100 branded "plaques" around the stadium. Microsoft will also get a box on the halfway line and exclusive use of the 90,000-seat venue for one day each year.
The new stadium, crowned by a 130m arch, is already a landmark on the north London skyline. If the stadium is finished in time, it will host next year's FA Cup Final and the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final, as well as live events including a concert by Bon Jovi.
"Wembley Stadium plays a unique role in British life -- it's a national icon that has inspired generation after generation of young people with the dream of playing and performing at Wembley," said Nick Barley, Microsoft UK's business and marketing officer. "By becoming Wembley Stadium's first founding partner, we are helping to ensure that dream continues."
Barley said that Microsoft was drawn by the challenge of producing the huge technology infrastructure needed by a venue of Wembley's size as well as the branding opportunity.
"Microsoft is one of the world's leading companies and is notoriously selective over which organizations it chooses to partner," said Michael Cunnah, chief executive of Wembley National Stadium Ltd, adding that the partnership would help "resurrect the stadium as the world's leading sports and entertainment venue."
Media reports put the value of the deal at ?5 million. Microsoft and Wembley National Stadium Ltd confirmed it was worth seven figures, but declined to be more specific.
Brewer Carlsberg UK Ltd also said it is in negotiations about a deal. Wembley declined to comment on reports that it is also holding talks with sports clothing firm Umbro PLC.
Henry on wright
The great disappointment of Thierry Henry's career is that he never played with Ian Wright, whose Arsenal scoring record he eclipsed by one goal this week.
Henry surpassed Wright's mark in Arsenal's 2-0 win Tuesday over Sparta Prague, scoring twice to take the record to 186 goals.
"My only regret of my career is that we never played with each other," Henry told Arsenal's TV network.
"Maybe at times we would have been upset with each other on the pitch, but that's the way it is."
Henry, 28, said Wright called to congratulate him after the match.
Henry said he also wished he could have joined fellow Frenchman and former Arsenal player Nicolas Anelka on the pitch.
"I would have liked to have played with Ian Wright and Nicolas Anelka to see what we could have done together," Henry said. "I could have played on the wing or behind those two. It's a shame I never played with both of them."
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