A sports clothing company decides to sponsor a professional football team. (a) Give two reasons why the clothing company would choose to sponsor the footbal...

(a) Why the company would sponsor the team

• Brand awareness: The company's logo appears on the team's shirts, which are seen by millions of fans at matches and on television. This increases public recognition of the brand. [1]
• Sales boost: Fans who support the team may buy the company's products out of loyalty or familiarity. Associating the brand with a successful, high-profile team creates a positive image that drives purchasing decisions. [1]

Other acceptable reasons: association with a successful team improves the company's reputation; tax benefits. [max 2]

(b) Advantage and disadvantage for the team

Advantage: The team receives financial support or equipment that helps them improve performance. For example, sponsorship money could fund better training facilities, allow the club to recruit higher-quality coaching staff, or invest in youth development programmes. [1+1]

Disadvantage: The sponsor may seek to influence aspects of the team's operations, such as kit design, match scheduling, or promotional commitments. This can place additional demands on players' time, create conflicts with training schedules, and reduce the team's autonomy over its own identity and decisions. [1+1]

[max 4]