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AEG signs up American Express to sponsor Hyde Park shows

By Chris Cooke | Published on Friday 22 November 2019

Good news for Neil Young! If he ever wants to play AEG’s British Summer Time shindig in London again, he won’t face the prospect of having to perform beneath the logo of big bad Barclaycard. Though I wonder what he makes of American Express.

Yeah, good news for fans of credit card sponsorship! Barclaycard may no longer be associated with the annual series of concerts in London’s Hyde Park, but American Express has been lined up as the event’s new “presenting partner”.

“American Express is a valued partner of ours”, says Paul Samuels, EVP of AEG Global Partnerships, “and I’m THRILLED that the success of our relationship has expanded to the new signing of our flagship festival. They offer card members and fans access to the very best events and the addition of American Express Presents BST Hyde Park will further connect fans to unforgettable live AEG experiences”.

Adds Brandy Sanders over there at super cool and definitely not big bad American Express: “We’re excited to bring American Express Experiences to the heart of London culture this summer, adding BST Hyde Park as a partner. From first access to the hottest tickets, to truly unforgettable experiences, we enhance the moments that bring our cardmembers closer to the music and artists they love”.

AEG had to remove Barclaycard and British Summer Time branding from the Neil Young day of their concert series this year after the musician said he was unaware the show would be sponsored by a fossil fuel financing bank when he originally agreed to play. “That doesn’t work for me”, he declared as soon as he became aware that the Barclaycard British Summer Time programme was sponsored by, well, Barclaycard. That’s what that whole thing at the start of this article was about.