Mixed reality firm Facebank will be the sleeve sponsor of Crystal Palace for the 2021/22 Premier League season as it signs a one-year deal. It will also be visible on the Arthur Wait and Holmesdale stands at Selhurst Park, as well as pitch side LED boards and the new club website and app.
Facebank takes over the inventory from fan engagement platform Iqoniq, which was Palace’s sleeve sponsor for the 2020/21 season.
For consumer apps, video games, social media, and entertainment, Facebank uses technology to augment, replicate and protect human faces. Facebank was founded by John Textor, a new investor in the South London club. Facebank merged with FuboTV, a streaming service based in the United States, last year.
A new app for Palace fans called Fan of The Match will allow them to test out Facebank technology as part of the partnership.
It has been described as “the first of its kind in world football” by Palace’s commercial director, Barry Webber.
Chief product officer Nick Ramsay said, “We develop fun and engaging technologies that help people treat their own face and body as intellectual property and we put the consumer in control of their digital presence.”
Before Palace’s 3-0 loss to Chelsea in their opening game of the 2021/22 season, it was announced that a deal had been reached. Brentford, a newly promoted side, will be the Eagles’ next opponent on Saturday.