Enjoy Illinois has become the official destination partner of Premier League team Crystal Palace FC.
The team, nicknamed the Eagles, visited Chicago, Illinois, in 2023 during their pre-season tour and returned to the US earlier this summer for the second successive year, playing in the Stateside Cup.
Crystal Palace will return to Illinois for the next Premier League Mornings Live, taking place in Chicago on September 21-24.
Enjoy Illinois will be displayed on the LED boards at Selhurst Park, interview backdrops and in-stadia TVs.
The tourism office will also sponsor the halftime challenge at Selhurst Park and will run competitions throughout the season where fans can win prizes.
Daniel Thomas, deputy director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Tourism, said: “We are thrilled to announce Enjoy Illinois’ new partnership as the official destination partner of Crystal Palace. We welcomed 2.16 million international visitors to Illinois in 2023, and the UK remains one of our top five markets.
“Illinois is also the number five sports market in the US…and this collaboration provides a fantastic opportunity to showcase the very best our state has to offer to a passionate global sporting audience looking for their next American adventure.
“We’re eager to welcome Crystal Palace fans to discover Illinois’ world-class sports entertainment, our vibrant city of Chicago and diverse culture, all while getting your “kicks” on Route 66 and enjoying our small-town charm and thrilling outdoor adventures.”
Barry Webber, chief commercial officer of Crystal Palace, added: “As a club, we are hugely appreciative of the support we receive from the US, and we’re delighted to announce this partnership with Enjoy Illinois after our warm welcome in Chicago during our 2023 pre-season tour.
“Crystal Palace has a strong connection to the US, both through our ownership, our strong fan base there and former USMNT star Chris Richards has become a firm favourite at Selhurst Park.
“We hope this partnership can continue to deepen our relationship between the club and our fans in Illinois.”
Pictured: Enjoy Illinois advertising during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and West Ham at Selhurst Park (Photo: Jeff Mood/PPAUK)