Global Fútbol

“There are several reasons why it is interesting for our club to grow in Latin America and open up in new countries,” began Daniel Pastor, Levante UD’s Director of International Training, as he commented on the latest steps the club has taken in this region as part of their brand expansion and business development strategies.

Most recently, the club landed in the Dominican Republic and Ecuador through some educational and football training projects, which have the aim of consolidating the club’s presence in a region where they have already been sharing their methodology for years, for example in Puerto Rico.

Levante UD’s plans in Ecuador and the Dominican Republic

“Expanding Levante UD’s presence in South America, specifically in countries such as Ecuador and the Dominican Republic, could bring significant benefits in both sporting and commercial terms, contributing to the club’s global growth and development,” Pastor said.

The Director of International Training was present in the Dominican Republic at the end of January to hold talks with the main football bodies, such as the Dominican league (LDF) and federation (FEDOFÚTBOL), as well as with clubs and schools. Levante UD’s International Department also wanted to travel to Ecuador, a country where the club will organise two camps during the month of March, in the cities of Guayaquil and Manta, thanks to an agreement signed with Ciex Sport Academy.

“South America has a rich tradition in football, with a wealth of emerging talent,” stated Pastor. With that in mind, establishing the club in countries such as Ecuador and the Dominican Republic will allow Levante UD to contribute to the development of local football by providing high-quality training programmes and sharing expertise. In this way, the club will be able to access a wider range of young talent, giving them the opportunity to develop in a professional environment.

Explaining the benefits of exploring new markets, Pastor continued: “Entering new markets means greater media exposure and an opportunity to expand the Levante UD brand. This not only benefits the club in terms of global recognition, but can also have positive impacts in terms of sponsorship, commercial agreements and merchandising. Moreover, expansion into new markets opens up new business opportunities. This can include partnerships with local academies, regional sponsorships and participation in sporting and community events.”

Levante UD’s presence in South America is not only beneficial from a sporting point of view, but can also encourage cultural exchange between Spain and the countries in the region. The director added: “This could strengthen the ties between the club and the local community, generating a positive long-term impact. By establishing training programmes in this region, Levante UD are searching for new fans. The emotional connection with the community can translate into strong and sustainable support.”

The benefits of internationalisation and its impact on other departments

The growth of Levante UD in South America, through training programmes and other actions, has the potential to generate a positive impact in several ways. In the view of the club’s International Department, these include: building the fanbase, establishing new sponsorship agreements, developing commercial agreements, growing the brand and promoting institutional relations.

Pastor explained: “By establishing a stronger presence in South America, the club could attract new supporters and develop a wider fanbase. The emotional connection between the young local talent trained through Levante UD’s programmes and the community can generate long-term loyalty and support. In addition, expansion into new markets often opens up opportunities to establish sponsorship deals with local companies interested in partnering with a recognised football club. The visibility in South America can attract potential regional sponsors who wish to link their brand with ours.”

On internationalisation and its benefits, he added: “International expansion contributes to the growth of the Levante UD brand globally. This not only has a positive impact on the visibility of the club, but can also generate more revenue through the sale of image rights, licensing and other commercial aspects related to the brand.”

It is clear, then, that the internationalisation of Levante UD in South America and other markets not only develops the fanbase and access to talent, but it also creates commercial opportunities, strengthens the brand and helps diversify the club’s sources of income, thus contributing to the sustainable development of the business. Finally, and in the view of the Director of International Training: “Internationalisation allows the club to diversify its revenue sources and reduce dependence on a specific market. This can be crucial for long-term financial stability and can help mitigate negative economic effects that might occur in a particular market.”

The club’s trip isn’t only helping them to open up to new countries such as Ecuador and the Dominican Republic, but it is also strengthening the club’s presence in a territory like Puerto Rico, where Levante UD have been holding training camps in December and in the summer for the past three seasons. The club took advantage of a trip between January 27th and 29th to promote the new camps that will be launched there this summer, as well as visiting the facilities of the clubs where the camps will be based. A tryout is also planned in this territory to identify a selection of possible players who could come to Spain in the summer to continue their training.