El Clásico: Sponsors

Real Madrid Sponsors and Partners 

FC Barcelona Sponsors and Partners

We have discussed how the rivalry between these two teams is more than just a game of soccer. However, we have not discussed that the rivalry between these two teams is now a way for big businesses to compete with each other. The rivalry among sponsors, and who they side with (which team, which players...etc) takes El Clásico to a whole new level. 

If you look at the list of sponsors for each team, it is obvious that companies align themselves with one team over the other, and this is a strategic move on their part. For example, Nike Sponsors FC Barcelona, while Adidas sponsors Real Madrid. These are considered two of the biggest brand names in athletic apparel and sporting goods, and they in a sense have a rivalry among themselves that is now carried out on the soccer field when Real Madrid and FC Barcelona play each other. The same can be said for Samsung and Pansonic, Microsoft and Intel, and Emirates and Qatar Airways. All of these competing firms have chosen to sponsor either one team or the other (with the exception of Audi). It is definitely a strategic move by management at these large firms to align themselves with either one team or the other, and this is because the rivalry is so huge (it is more than just a game of soccer). If you were a die hard fan of Barcelona would you buy Adidas over Nike ? I think that this is the mentality that competitors are trying to take advantage of from fans. They are hoping that aligning themselves with one team over the other gives them some sort of competitive advantage in terms of profit. 

With Nike and Adidas in particular, it is especially important to take these two firms into consideration when it comes to El Clásico. This is because although each of them is a primary sponsor for one team, they actually support individual players from other teams. For example, Adidas sponsors Real Madrid and also Mesi... perhaps the most notable FC Barcelona player. 

Similarly, Nike sponsors the individual player Ronaldo. What advantages do you think this gives these two teams? Why would Nike not sponsor Messi, and Adidas not sponsor Ronaldo? It would make sense because their allegiances are to the entire teams of Barca and Madrid. I personally think that they are choosing to sponsor opposite individual players because it broadens their target market. It would perhaps be TOO strong of a tie to FC Barcelona if Nike sponsored Messi, and vice versa. Then Real Madrid fans might actually not buy Nike, and only stick to adidas.