In 2007, Chelsea Football Club teamed up with the world's leading entertainment company, The Walt Disney Company, in a long-term agreement.
Under the terms of the four-year agreement, Chelsea becomes the Official Professional Soccer Club of Disney's Wide World of Sports and presenting sponsor of the Disney Soccer Showcase Series.
As a result, Chelsea are associated with the top youth football event destination, Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, and the number one youth football event in the United States, Disney's Soccer Showcase.
Chelsea also have significant presence at other Disney created football events through coaching and player clinics which will be held in association with some of the events. These are run under the guidance of Chelsea's Football in the Community scheme.
An annual educational exchange programme has also been created where at least one Chelsea Academy team visits and competes at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.
In exchange, Chelsea brings a winning team from a selected Disney soccer tournament to be our guests at a Chelsea match and train at our Academy, which is rapidly gaining international renown as one of the leading academies in the world.
'To align ourselves with Chelsea FC, which is recognised as one of the most popular soccer clubs in the world, will not only confirm the position of the Disney Soccer Showcase as the premiere youth soccer tournament in the United States, but now makes it an absolute must tournament for youth soccer players everywhere,' said Mike Millay, director of sports at the Walt Disney World Resort.
'We look forward to a long and rewarding relationship with Chelsea. Their involvement with our events will provide a phenomenal guest experience for the thousands of young soccer players through interactions with one of the leading soccer academies in the world.'
For more information on Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, please click here.
For more information on the Disney Soccer Showcase presented by Chelsea FC, please click here.
