By Betsefy
© Reuters
PayPal is the grandfather of all modern online payment providers, established way back in 1998 and taking its place as the world’s premier digital wallet soon after. It is trusted globally to facilitate fast, simple and secure transactions with minimal fees. Since its inception, PayPal has worked to build partnerships with other companies and institutions for a reciprocally beneficial relationship.
While PayPal works with actors in a wide variety of sectors, one area of focus is sports. The company is involved with football – AKA soccer – on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as basketball in the US. With new deals signed very recently, let’s take a look at all of PayPal’s sports-related sponsorships and partnerships.
The FA and the matchday appSince 2019, PayPal has been the official payments partner of the UK Football Association (FA). During this time, the payments giant has worked with the FA to develop and implement the Matchday app, designed to help with the grassroots game. This means the non-elite and amateur football teams, including youth teams, which are so important for the future of the game.
The free app is designed to help club administrators, coaches, parents and players to organise training and matches, communicate instantly, and stay updated on tables and leagues. Where PayPal came in was by providing the payments component. Smaller clubs were very reliant on cash and even cheque payments for fees, and this often caused delays or underpayment. PayPal helped by integrating seamless digital payments into the app, and since its launch more than a million grassroots players are now able to pay fees instantly via mobile.
The Lionesses and football beyond bordersThe England women’s football squad is riding high after doing what the men’s team haven’t done since 1966 – win a major international competition. In the summer of 2022, PayPal collaborated with the Lionesses on a short film to promote both the team and the brand and to highlight the work that PayPal is doing with various charitable groups.
The payment company’s alliance with Football Beyond Borders (FBB) is further evidence of a dedication to the grassroots game. FBB helps youth from disadvantaged circumstances to complete their schooling, with football as a central tool for teamwork and mental health. This group is endorsed by the FA, and PayPal have raised more than £130,000 for the FBB Girls’ Programme.
Phoenix Suns jersey patchesIn 2018, after the NBA gave the go-ahead for jersey logo sponsorship, PayPal entered a multi-year deal with the Arizona team the Phoenix Suns. Along with the jersey patches, PayPal also became the team’s official payment partner, as well as the Phoenix Mercury women’s side, and a Spanish football team owned by Robert Sarver, owner of the Suns. Real Club Deportivo Mallorca play in Spain’s second division.
PayPal has also integrated its technology into the Suns’ home arena, the Talking Stick, and into the team’s mobile app. Concessions, merchandise, parking and everything else at the arena can now be achieved with the tap of a mobile or card.
The partnership has not been without problems, and PayPal’s relationship with the team has recently come under fire by a prominent civil rights leader and journalist. The Reverend Al Sharpton wrote an open letter to Dan Schulman, the CEO of PayPal, urging him to reconsider the relationship with the Suns. The letter was prompted by allegations against Robert Sarver of misogyny and racism during his eighteen-year ownership of the Suns.
It seems unlikely that PayPal will pay much heed to Sharpton, as the company always weighs commercial interests against public opinion. There was some initial grumbling about PayPal casinos by anti-gambling campaigners when the provider first sanctioned the use of its tech for casino payments. But it was smart business to allow it, and today there are several online casinos that accept PayPal (find a curated list on NewCasinoUK if you are a UK resident).
San Jose Earthquakes and PayPal ParkOne of the most visible of all PayPal’s sports sponsorships is the stadium of the American Major League Soccer (MLS) team the San Jose Earthquakes. In 2021, PayPal secured naming rights to the stadium, and it officially became PayPal Park. San Jose is the site of PayPal’s corporate headquarters, so it was important for the company to invest in and support a local sports team.
As with the UK partnerships, PayPal takes a community-led approach in its relationship with the Earthquakes. The stadium now has a section of 250 seats reserved for disadvantaged members of the local community, who have the opportunity to receive free tickets and transportation on match days. Youth groups also have access to the field and the chance to attend training sessions with the team, and local businesses are promoted at every home game.
Up to date contactless digital payment tech is integrated into the stadium, helping fans to move more efficiently through the space and reducing queues and waiting time.
