SPORTFIVE teams up with Olympique Lyonnais and Hyundai to launch the SociOL Room

SPORTFIVE, the international sports marketing agency owned by Lagardère Unlimited, has announced a digital partnership between Hyundai, the South Korean car manufacturer, and the leading French football club Olympique Lyonnais. Hyundai is currently the club’s main commercial partner and, under this agreement, will now sponsor “SociOL Room by Hyundai”, an exciting new concept which enables live match interaction between the club, its partners and fans.

The concept, which uses Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, was launched by the club in December 2013. The exclusive behind-the-scenes content, live appearances from studio guests and constant exchange have so far proved highly popular, with fans re-tweeting, commenting and further engaging across their social networks. The second “SociOL Room by Hyundai” will take place on March 16^th when Olympique Lyonnais takes on AS Monaco. Additional editions will follow on March 29^th against AS Saint-Etienne and on April 12^th when the club confronts Paris Saint-Germain. As the first commercial partner, Hyundai will be able to drive content and benefit from this unique opportunity to interact with fans in real time.

Lagardère Unlimited actively recognises the impact of digital marketing and positions itself at the top of the market. A team of dedicated digital experts provides strategic consulting services and customised, innovative solutions to a rapidly growing number of international partners. As the long-standing exclusive marketing agency of Olympique Lyonnais, SPORTFIVE has provided comprehensive marketing services to the club for more than 10 years, bringing Hyundai to the club from the 2012/2013 season. As part of its on-going support, SPORTFIVE provides extensive digital services to the club and its partners, creating digital activation packages for sponsors, whilst managing partner relations on the club’s website, social networks and App.

Vincent-Baptiste Closon, Marketing Director at Olympique Lyonnais, expressed his delight at the partnership: “The majority of our fans use social networks, whether at the stadium, watching TV or on their mobile phones. Thanks to the “SociOL Room by Hyundai” we are now able to share with them a unique and live insight into the match and the surrounding action. It really is a true novelty for which we are immensely proud to be able to associate with Hyundai, with whom we share the same vision and ambitions within the digital universe.”

Commenting on the deal, Laurent Moretti, Managing Director of SPORTFIVE France, said: “SPORTFIVE works on a daily basis with a number of top quality clubs, connecting partners to fans and promoting relevant content. Olympique Lyonnais has a particularly strong fan-base and the SociOL Room project proves once again that a club can innovate and create win-win projects for both partners and fans. We are delighted to have brought Hyundai into the project and look forward to supporting the concept and developing additional opportunities.”