The volleyball premier league, of which Samen Lycurgus in Groningen is a part, is taking a new direction with the betting company BetCity.
With the new name sponsor, the premier league will be legally separate from the Dutch volleyball association (Nevobo). The competition is now called the BetCity Eredivisie Volleybal and is united in the Coöperatie Eredivisie Volleybal Nederland (CEVN). Multiple Dutch champion Lycurgus applauds the initiative and the further professional development of volleyball at the highest Dutch level. It is still unknown to what extent the Groningen team and the other premier league clubs can benefit financially.
The chairman of Orion from Doetinchem, Wijnand Geerdink, will for the time being lead the new Eredivisie bureau as chairman and pacesetter. “We are very much looking forward to spreading our wings as the clubs,” he says. “We are grateful to the Nevobo for the foundation they have laid. We will do everything we can in the coming years to give the clubs, the competition and the volleyball sport an extra boost.”
The clubs have to grow into an even more professional league
Online gambling company BetCity, known for the advertising slogan ‘what a piece of cake’, has committed itself to the premier league as name sponsor until the summer of 2025. According to the Nevobo, the provider of online sports betting has proven itself as a reliable partner in the sports world, and in volleyball in particular. With the support of BetCity, the clubs must grow into an even more professional league. The company will receive exposure around all competitions and will promote the sport to volleyball enthusiasts across the country.
“BetCity looks forward to this adventure and admires the step the clubs have taken together,” said Robert Kooiman, the company’s marketing director. We have the ambition to take the competition to new heights together with the premier league volleyball and to allow the sport to grow further.”
‘This offers additional commercial opportunities’
,,We see the transfer of the rights of the men’s volleyball premier league as the next step towards a stronger competition”, says Nevobo director Michel Everaert. “This offers the premier league clubs, which have developed strongly in recent years, additional commercial opportunities. With this, a battle can be made in further professionalizing the clubs and increasing visibility. Although the responsibility for the premier league will lie with the CEVN, the Nevobo will continue to stimulate and support the development of the premier league.”