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The Daily Insight

How does a business sponsor an athlete?

Author

Emma Jordan

Published Mar 03, 2026

Companies sponsor athletes for many many reasons. Endorsements, even on a smaller scale work for companies of all sizes because they bring the brand to their audience. Fans take the trust they have in the performance of these athletes and place it in the brands they see these athletes support.

How do you ask an athlete for sponsorship?

Find out below.

  1. Start with who you know. When trying to find sponsors for your team, don’t overlook the obvious – your team.
  2. Go into the local community.
  3. Ask national companies.
  4. Be digitally savvy.
  5. Create a package.
  6. Be professional and personal.

Which athlete has the most sponsors?

Roger Federer
1. Roger Federer – $85 million. The GOAT also happens to be the biggest earning sports person on the planet and at 39 years old Federer still has the biggest athlete sponsorship deal in sport! His latest pact is with pasta brand Barilla.

Which is the most popular form of sports sponsorship?

However, empirical surveys have discovered that sport is the most popular sponsorship medium.

What kind of company would sponsor an athlete?

This is especially true if the company sponsoring you is marketing products or services to athletes. For example, a company that manufactures athletic clothing might ask you to test some of their products — providing them with high value feedback and observations — before moving to mass production.

What should be included in a sports team sponsorship agreement?

It can also lead to a lengthy legal battle if the sponsor feels they were damaged for the duration of the agreement. A non-compete clause should clearly state that the team will not sign another sponsorship agreement with a competing company or that the principal sponsor will have more promotion and marketing time than other sponsors.

What can an athlete do for a business?

Another aspect of business where athletes can provide exceptional value is product research and testing. This is especially true if the company sponsoring you is marketing products or services to athletes.

Who are the athletes that are sponsored by Under Armour?

Under Armour promotes its products by sponsorship agreements with the following celebrity athletes, professional teams and college athletic teams, a field in which it competes with other sports apparel companies. FC St. Pauli (Until 2020 – 2021 season).