San Francisco 49ers keen to build bridges with Leeds United fans with city centre event
The San Francisco 49ers and Leeds United have planned a watch-along event in order to improve relations between the fans and the club.
Leeds United fans are invited to a ‘watch party’ in Leeds city centre on 16 October to view the 49ers face the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL.
49ers Enterprises – the group that owns the NFL side – own a 44% stake in Leeds United, which has increased incrementally since their first investment in 2018.
With the two sports teams set on building a relationship and merging their fan bases, the October event was set up to foster closer relationships between the clubs and their supporters.
As reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post, the event will include appearances made by 49ers alumni, team mascots and also Leeds United personnel.
In a similar event held during the club’s tour of Australia in the summer, Patrick Bamford, Joe Gelhardt, Adam Forshaw, Marc Roca and Mateusz Klich all made appearances.
A unique strategy
The relationship between football and American football has not always been the best.
But with more and more investment in the Premier League arriving from America and particularly from the NFL, it makes sense why Leeds and the 49ers are trying to build bridges.
Their investment in the club so far has seemed genuine, and there is definitely a bond building between the fan bases on social media since their initial involvement in 2018.
An event such as this, which will likely be obligatory for some players to attend, is a good way to build up the community feeling around the club.
On top of that, the scheduling of the event lands right after Leeds’ Premier League fixture against Arsenal on Sunday, 16 October. Fans from Elland Road will then be invited after the match to join the watch-along event for the 49ers.
Frankly, there’s nothing not to like about the club’s affiliation with the 49ers – they’ve not interfered with the running of the football club and have made genuine attempts to connect to the fanbase of the club.
Let’s just hope they play well against the Falcons!
In other Leeds United news, Victor Orta is already planning January transfer window for Leeds United amid Chelsea links