FC Tokyo (Tokyo Football Club Co., Ltd.) signed a comprehensive partnership agreement and sponsorship contract with Keio Corporation on May 9 (Tuesday).
On July 1 (Saturday), a press conference regarding the policy of the comprehensive partnership agreement was held during the home game at Ajinomoto Stadium. We announced more specific details about the initiatives that both companies will collaborate on to the media representatives.
□Tomofumi Tsumura, President and CEO of Keio Corporation, President Executive Officer Comment
"Ajinomoto Stadium, the franchise of FC Tokyo, is located right in the middle of the Keio Line. It is a very important venue that gathers many people from along the line, centered around sports events. From our perspective, it has become a significant theme for us to create demand for movement as people seek enjoyment within their living areas, especially as lifestyles have changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with many who used to commute daily from the suburbs to Shinjuku and Shibuya. Among these, sports are a very powerful content, and I believe it is meaningful to have a base in the middle of the Keio Line where local residents can come together and actively engage within their living areas. FC Tokyo has traditionally been seen as a partner to energize the community, and by formalizing our agreement, we aim to share the same vision even more strongly and contribute to the community's vitality by utilizing each other's resources in a long-term partnership. As the first initiative, FC Tokyo will hold a match against Kyoto Sanga F.C. at Ajinomoto Stadium on August 12 (Sat), and we will celebrate that day as 'Keio Electric Railway Day.' We hope to invite local residents along the line and recruit children from the Keio Line area for the Hand with Hand event (where children enter the field holding hands with players), allowing everyone to feel closer to sports."
□Naoki Oogane, Chairman of the Board, Tokyo Football Club, Inc. Comment
"Ajinomoto Stadium was built in 2001, and we have been operating as our home stadium since then. Since then, we have started community contribution activities, thinking about how to gain fans and supporters and how to energize the community. The biggest turning point in this was when we had FC Tokyo posters displayed at Chofu Station. At that time, we had little recognition and not many supporters, and having the posters displayed in the station was the beginning of our collaboration with Keio Corporation. After that, we had flyers placed in the station racks, large posters put up on the station platform, and advertisements hung in the train cars, all in support of FC Tokyo. We have distributed flyers at each station on the Keio Line, and the station masters at each station kindly agreed to allow us to distribute flyers inside the station, which greatly helped us penetrate the community. Urban development is centered around the stations. Currently, our fans and supporters are predominantly along the Keio Line. I believe this is the result of what we have built together over the years. The signing of this comprehensive partnership agreement is not so much a new start, but rather a deepening of the relationships we have built so far, and I believe it will lead to a closer collaboration in thinking together about what we can do for the community. In particular, we want to implement initiatives aimed at children, helping them to have dreams and hopes for the future."
□Shigeya Kawagishi, President and CEO, Tokyo Football Club, Inc. Comment
"There are various sports events along the Keio Line, and I believe that through the conclusion of this agreement, FC Tokyo has been recognized as an important presence for Keio Electric Railway. I hope to help enhance the appeal of the Keio Line, especially by strengthening initiatives aimed at children and families along the line, and increasing opportunities for them to engage with sports. We are preparing specific measures, such as collaborating on walking events and soccer classes. I have heard that Keio Electric Railway has an initiative called 'Keio Kids Work Team,' and I believe there are various possibilities for future initiatives, such as creating opportunities to experience the work of FC Tokyo. On August 12 (Sat), we will hold 'Keio Electric Railway Day,' focusing particularly on initiatives for children, preparing mechanisms to provide many children with good experiences and joy. While adjustments are needed, it is essential to raise awareness that there is sports, soccer, and FC Tokyo along the Keio Line to encourage people to visit Ajinomoto Stadium. Therefore, I would like to seek the support of Keio Electric Railway to promote the blue and red culture in the surrounding areas. Inbound tourism from overseas has also been increasing. I hope to work together with the Keio Group on initiatives to encourage those visitors to come to Ajinomoto Stadium."
□Purpose
This agreement was concluded to strengthen the collaboration between FC Tokyo and Keio Corporation, aiming to revitalize the areas along the railway through sports, contribute to the healthy development and growth of children, and promote rich and attractive community development.
Support for initiatives aimed at children
To support the healthy development and growth of children, we will display the logo of Keio Corporation on the apparel of the children entering hand in hand with the players during home games, in agreement with and sponsorship of the Hand with Hand concept.
□Collaborative Matters
(1) Matters related to the promotion and revitalization of the areas along the line.
(2) Matters related to the healthy development of children's physical and mental well-being through sports.
(3) Matters concerning the promotion of stadium visits.
(4) Matters concerning the acquisition of fans for both parties.
(5) Matters related to the promotion of attractive town development.
