Beer brand Heineken, through Kenya Wine Agencies Limited, will on May 30 host football fans across Kenya for UEFA Champions League finals viewing parties as part of the culmination of its “Fans Have More Friends” campaign launched in April.
The events will be held in major towns including Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu and Eldoret, with the company saying the aim is to create curated football viewing experiences for fans around the country.
“We want to celebrate football fans across Kenya with unforgettable match viewing experiences in leading entertainment spots in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, and Eldoret as we wrap up the ‘Fans Have More Friends’ campaign we launched in April,” said Alice Mwalimo, Commercial Director at KWAL.
According to the company, the events will combine football, entertainment and lifestyle experiences, featuring performances by artistes including Nameless, P-Unit, Okello Max, Iyaani, Femi One, Mejja, Jua Cali and MR Lenny.
“We are calling on all football fans to turn up in large numbers for the exciting events we have lined up for them on 30th May. This is not just about watching the finals but also connecting with other fans and making new friends. We also encourage fans to enjoy responsibly and not drink and drive,” added Mwalimo.
The “Fans Have More Friends” campaign is a global initiative launched by Heineken in January to encourage football fans to form friendships and social connections through the game.
KWAL Senior Brand Manager Prudence Mutembei said the campaign had already attracted large numbers of football fans through activations held in several towns.
“The fandom campaign by Heineken® has helped redefine the UEFA Champions League experience in Kenya by transforming match watching into moments of real connection, moving from just being fans into being friends.”
According to Mutembei, the campaign has so far staged 60 fan activations in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret and Meru.
For the finals, viewing events will be hosted at Capital Noir, Covo Thika Road and Quiver Kilimani in Nairobi, Berlin Lounge in Kisumu, Space Next Door in Nakuru, Alcapone Nyali in Mombasa and Baniyas in Eldoret.
Mutembei urged football fans to attend the events and enjoy the UEFA Champions League finals experience.
The campaign is based on research by Heineken showing that 75 per cent of football fans say their fandom has helped them meet new people, while 59 per cent say it has led to some of their closest friendships.