Irish firm chases deals amid MidEast sports expansion

An Irish-owned sports surfaces firm which boasts Manchester United and Real Madrid among its clients said on Saturday it is targeting the Middle East for growth.Support in Sport (SIS) Group Ltd has announced an initial $18m expansion into the Middle East and Africa but company chiefs say are chasing further contracts connected to the region’s plans to build new sports stadia.  Qatar is to build nine new stadia as part of its plans to host the 2022 World Cup.The expansion includes major building contracts in Iraq and Angola and is set to grow the company’s turnover by over 30 percent from €25m ($33.8m) last year to €37m in 2012, SIS said in a statement.

SIS Group provides sports and utility surfaces across the world with a high-profile client database and events that include the FIFA World Cup Finals, African Cup of Nations, UEFA European Champions League and the IRB Six Nations Rugby.Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus are also among its customers and SIS said the UAE is the latest regional headquarters to be established by the company.SIS Group said is expecting further expansion across the Middle East and “is ideally positioned for major upcoming sporting contracts in the region”. 

It added that projected revenue would grow to $7m by 2013 and by 2016 is estimated to be in the region of $20m. “We have a proven track record of delivering our projects within budget and 100% on time within tight deadlines. With large scale developments taking place in the region both in the landscape and sporting arena, governments and corporations know that they can trust us to deliver consistently,” said George Mullan, CEO, SIS Group.

In Iraq, SIS Group is working with the newly-formed government to build six sports fields and a nursery at the new Basra Sports City complex in a deal estimated to be worth $4.2m. SIS Group will construct the pitch at the new 65,000 seat stadium, a second pitch for a smaller stadium, and four training pitches. The pitches at the Sports City will be used in the 2013 Gulf Cup of Nations which will be held in Iraq.