Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola to visit Singapore as part of club’s flagship international fan engagement programme The Famous CFC, presented by Ascott

Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola to visit Singapore as part of club’s flagship international fan engagement programme The Famous CFC, presented by Ascott

The Ascott Limited (Ascott), the Official Global Hotels Partner of Chelsea Football Club, is excited to bring The Famous CFC to Singapore as the event’s presenting partner. This will mark the inaugural Southeast Asian destination for Chelsea’s flagship international fan engagement programme. Scheduled for the weekend of 30 November and 1 December 2024, the two-day visit will be anchored at lyf Funan Singapore, the flagship property of Ascott’s lyf brand that offers an experience-led social living environment in the heart of Singapore’s Civic District.

As the Official Global Hotels Partner of Chelsea Football Club, Ascott is bringing The Famous CFC, Chelsea’s global fan tour to Southeast Asia for the first time, starting with Singapore.

The upcoming Famous CFC in Singapore will feature Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola, a fan favourite when he played for the Blues from 1996 to 2003. Throughout his career with the Blues, Zola was twice named Player of the Year and was voted by fans as the club’s greatest-ever player in 2003. During his time at Chelsea, he won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, two Football Association Challenge Cups, the League Cup and the Community Shield. This event will be Zola’s first visit to Singapore with the Blues.

The Famous CFC is a global fan experience created by Chelsea to strengthen connections with its fans around the world, and to help connect partners and brands within international markets. Introduced in 2023, the event has run two successful editions in Mumbai, India and Los Angeles, USA. The Singapore edition will mark Ascott’s first presentation of The Famous CFC, with plans to introduce it to additional markets in the future.

The Singapore edition of The Famous CFC will be headlined by a watch party at Funan as Chelsea play Aston Villa on 1 December, football coaching clinics delivered by the Chelsea Foundation as well as a meet-and-greet between Zola and local fans, alongside other fan engagement activities. Some of the experiences will be made available exclusively for members of Ascott Star Rewards (ASR).

The Singapore edition of The Famous CFC will be anchored at lyf Funan Singapore, the flagship property of Ascott’s lyf brand

Tan Bee Leng, Chief Commercial Officer, Ascott, said: “Since becoming Chelsea’s Official Global Hotels Partner in July, Ascott has been dedicated to bringing Chelsea fans closer to their beloved football heroes, such as through exclusive hospitality packages at the Ascott Privilege Signatures Stadium Lounge at Stamford Bridge and creative social media content. Recognising that many of Chelsea’s over 600 million fans are based in Southeast Asia, we are thrilled that The Famous CFC is visiting the region very soon. Southeast Asia is one of Ascott’s key markets where we are managing over 360 properties in nine countries. Starting with Singapore, specifically at lyf Funan Singapore as the main venue for The Famous CFC, we hope to build excitement among Chelsea fans ahead of the rebranding of the stadium hotels at Stamford Bridge to lyf by the second half of 2025.”

“The Famous CFC programme seamlessly blends hospitality, entertainment and sports, aligning perfectly with Ascott’s commitment to meeting the growing demand for experiential travel. Through The Famous CFC, we are delighted to offer Chelsea fans unique opportunities to connect with their club and provide exclusive experiences to Ascott Star Rewards members that embody our brand promise of ‘Stay Rewarded’,” she added.

Casper Stylsvig, Chelsea’s Chief Revenue Officer, said: “We are looking forward to bringing The Famous CFC to Singapore in November, and the chance to engage with our passionate fan base of over 60 million people in Southeast Asia.

“It’s the first time we have visited the country since 2017, and we are grateful to Ascott – our presenting partner of this leg of the programme – in sharing our vision of connecting with our fans from across the globe in innovative and exciting ways. We look forward to delivering what will be an unforgettable weekend of activities, for both our supporters and ASR members alike.”

Gianfranco Zola said: “I’m so excited to be involved in The Famous CFC this year, and to take part in the event for the first time. I know we have a huge fan base in Southeast Asia so it will be really special to spend some time together while exploring a beautiful country.”