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The US top-flight, Major League Soccer (MLS), is poised to increase its teams’ kit sponsorship inventory by introducing shirt sleeve partners next season, according to a report in The Athletic.
The US sports publication reports that the potential new deals could be worth anywhere between US$500,000 and US$1 million per year to the MLS franchises able to fill the new slot.
That projection would leave the US soccer clubs lagging behind the top teams in the Premier League, England’s top flight. In contrast, Manchester United’s deal with Kohler is worth as much as UK£20 million (US$26 million) a season.
The MLS has a league-wide kit supply deal in place with Adidas until 2023 which means that franchise shirt sponsorship inventory is limited to one main partner. A new line of income will come as a welcome boost to the clubs as wages continue to rise across the league.
The Athletic also reported that DC United is poised to commercially benefit from an uptick in visibility due to the opening of Audi Field and the signing of English veteran Wayne Rooney.
Ecommerce giant Amazon is one of eight companies in the running to become the club’s new shirt sponsor. United Airlines, Qatar Airways, financial services firm Edward Jones, local utility conglomerate WGL energy services, consulting firm Guidehouse, UK accounting firm Deloitte, and ESPN’s over-the-top (OTT) subscription service ESPN+ make up the rest of the reported names.
Current partner Leidos is also interested in potentially renewing its five-year deal, which expires at the end of the season.
DC United earn US$3 million a year from Leidos – believed to be in the top third of MLS deals of its kind – and are looking for a kit sponsorship deal valued closer to US$5 million a season.
The US top-flight, Major League Soccer (MLS), is poised to increase its teams’ kit sponsorship inventory by introducing shirt sleeve partners next season, according to a report in The Athletic.
The US sports publication reports that the potential new deals could be worth anywhere between US$500,000 and US$1 million per year to the MLS franchises able to fill the new slot.
That projection would leave the US soccer clubs lagging behind the top teams in the Premier League, England’s top flight. In contrast, Manchester United’s deal with Kohler is worth as much as UK£20 million (US$26 million) a season.
The MLS has a league-wide kit supply deal in place with Adidas until 2023 which means that franchise shirt sponsorship inventory is limited to one main partner. A new line of income will come as a welcome boost to the clubs as wages continue to rise across the league.
The Athletic also reported that DC United is poised to commercially benefit from an uptick in visibility due to the opening of Audi Field and the signing of English veteran Wayne Rooney.
Ecommerce giant Amazon is one of eight companies in the running to become the club’s new shirt sponsor. United Airlines, Qatar Airways, financial services firm Edward Jones, local utility conglomerate WGL energy services, consulting firm Guidehouse, UK accounting firm Deloitte, and ESPN’s over-the-top (OTT) subscription service ESPN+ make up the rest of the reported names.
Current partner Leidos is also interested in potentially renewing its five-year deal, which expires at the end of the season.
DC United earn US$3 million a year from Leidos – believed to be in the top third of MLS deals of its kind – and are looking for a kit sponsorship deal valued closer to US$5 million a season.
