Benfica launch wedding dress collection

Lisbon (AFP) – Heavily indebted Portuguese giants Benfica unveiled Tuesday a collection of wedding dresses which it will sell alongside other club items such as nappies and dog beds.

The club put on display 24 wedding dresses, including several in red — the team’s colour — at a fashion show at their Stadium of Light that included an appearance by the club’s mascot, an eagle.

The wedding dresses sell for up to 10,000 euros ($11,000).

“Our goal is to accompany the life cycle of our fans and supporters,” Benfica’s licensing and merchandising manager, Jose Simao, told AFP.

“Just like we have products for babies, like diapers and baby bottles, we have products for all stages of people’s lives, for their most important moments.”

Among the dozens of items for sale at Benfica’s online store are the traditional team jerseys as well as baby pacifiers and nappies, bath towels, bed linen and dog beds.

In addition, Benfica’s supporters have since 2012 received a discount on funeral services provided by Portugal’s largest network of funeral agencies.

The firm offers the option of the Benfica club anthem being played at funerals. 

Benfica, who won a record 35th Portuguese championship in May, posted a record profit of 20.4 million euros during the 2015/16 season. The club has debts of 455 million euros.