Unibet announced as title sponsor for 2015 EuroHockey Championships

Online gambling company Unibet have been announced as title sponsors of the 2015 EuroHockey Championships ©England Hockey

England Hockey and the European Hockey Federation (EHF) have announced online gambling operator Unibet will be the title sponsor of the 2015 EuroHockey Championships, which will be held at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.

The 40 match Championship is due be held across 10 days between August 21 and 30, with and women’s and men’s champions set to be crowned on August 29 and 30 respectively.

Germany will be defending both the men and women's titles.

Following the agreement of the sponsorship deal with Unibet, who offer betting games, bingo and poker to more than 9.7 million customers in 100 countries, the event will now be called the Unibet EuroHockey Championships 2015.

"We are delighted to sponsor the Eurohockey Championships 2015 and believe this fits in with Unibet's passionate, friendly and expert values,” stated Phillip Manzi, Unibet UK country manager.

“Unibet pride ourselves on being the home for all sports, especially those that people are passionate about, and Hockey certainly fits the bill."

England Hockey believe the sponsorship will help them to successfully showcase hockey to a potential European television audience of 100 million, including national terrestrial coverage in the United Kingdom, while delivering a world class event for spectators, athletes and volunteers.

The event will now be known as the Unibet EuroHockey Championships 2015 ©England Hockey

“We are delighted the Unibet has come on board as title sponsor for the forthcoming EuroHockey Championships,” said Andy Tapley, chair of the Unibet EuroHockey Championships 2015 Organising Committee.

“With its genuine passion and expertise across all sport, the partnership will help us to create more interest in the event and continue to grow hockey in the run up to the Olympics.”

England Hockey have already announced plans to increase the size of the stadium for the event, due to the high demand for tickets to the Championship, with the additional tickets set to be released to existing bookers on April 27 and the general public on May 1.

Marijke Fleuren, President of the EHF, congratulated England Hockey on finding its title sponsor saying “from the outset all the stakeholders agreed that this Championships would be about putting the players first, also a core strategy of Unibet.”

“We welcome Unibet and share its wish for players to play in a fair-play environment.”