County news February 29, 2016 Specsavers unveiled as new County Championship sponsor

Specsavers has been introduced as the new sponsor of the County Championship, replacing insurers LV= after a 14-year association. The optical retail chain has signed a four-yr address the ECB for full naming and branding rights for the best competition.

The ECB were looking for a successor to LV=, which turned into referred to as Liverpool Victoria when it took over because the Championship's sponsor in 2002, and has selected to extend its courting with Specsavers, which has been the board's official optometry and hearing accomplice and main companion of the affiliation of Cricket officers (ACO) since 2014.

"we are very thrilled to have agreed a 4-year cope with Specsavers after protecting discussions with several fascinated parties approximately this sponsorship package deal," Sanjay Patel, the ECB's commercial director, said

"The County Championship continues to enjoy a strong following and the opposition's geographical unfold across 18 special counties will help Specsavers benefit wider brand exposure at each regional and countrywide stage.

"Our business circle of relatives continues to amplify and cutting-edge statement highlights over again that cricket is an attractive property to a extensive variety of different manufacturers and organizations."

Yorkshire are the reigning county champions, having lifted the name in 2014 and 2015, and could begin their Championship defence while the new season gets underneath way on April 10.

The news follows an settlement with Greene King to grow to be the "respectable beer of britain cricket", changing Marston's, and the renewal of Yorkshire Tea's status as "professional brew". The ECB is likewise seeking out a successor to Waitrose as predominant sponsor of the britain team, after the grocery store chain determined now not to continue with its deal past 2016.