J.League champions Kashima Antlers on Friday announced the opening their first overseas office in New York City as part of the club’s global strategy.
According to an official release, the office will facilitate the club’s networking and marketing efforts as well as allow them to more closely study the activities of Major League Soccer, whose efforts in digital marketing and fan engagement have gained attention in Japan in recent years.
Kashima Antlers are known as forerunners in a league that has only recently made the shift to social media; the J.League co-founders are one of just three clubs with an official English-language Twitter account.
They also belong to a group of just 10 J1 League clubs who offer English-language ticket sales to foreign fans.
The office will be opened in cooperation with Blue United Corporation, a Manhattan-based sports management and consulting company which oversees Major League Soccer’s marketing efforts in Asia.