Sunderland target international fan growth amid Africa ties and US tour | OneFootball

Sunderland chiefs have underlined the need to grow the club’s overseas fanbase to boost revenues, highlighting Africa ties alongside a summer tour of the United States. They head Stateside before a Premier League season that will also include Europa League football after Regis Le Bris delivered a seventh-place finish.

According to Sunderland Echo, the strategy was set out at the mid-May Supporters’ Collective Meeting, attended by interim CEO Tom Burwell. The outlet also recently reported a £200m turnover.

Sunderland’s African links date to 2012, when not-for-profit Invest in Africa became shirt sponsor. The club had more players at AFCON than any other Premier League side, and many current commercial talks involve African companies.

The United States is viewed as a difficult market to cut through, even with a tour aimed at maximising revenue. The club aims to stay rooted in the local community while exporting its identity.

The Black Cats will base in Nashville for a week, then face Liverpool at Geodis Park on Saturday, July 25th. They then play Leeds United in Harrison, New Jersey on Thursday, 30 July at the Sports Illustrated Stadium. The tour concludes in Chester, Pennsylvania against Phil Parkinson’s Wrexham at Subaru Park on Sunday, August second.

Source: Sunderland Echo