Jersey Sponsor Speculation Time!

By: Andrew | August 12th, 2009

The team jerseys are to be unveiled this Autumn, but nevermind the color scheme, the template Adidas will use, or whether the team logo will be centered or placed over the heart. If we’re all going to be walking billboards, now is a good a time as any to speculate on which corporation will have their logo and/or workmark emblazoned across the chests of the Union players and our fellow ardent supporters.

The team has said the sponsor will be “a company that values the Philadelphia market, Philadelphia Union, our extensive youth soccer marketing rights, and the passion of our fan base. Sponsorship partnerships are far more elaborate than putting a company’s name on our jersey or on a sign in our stadium. We will provide our partners with direct access to soccer fans throughout the Greater Philadelphia Region, enabling them to interact and build loyalty with current and potential customers.”

Does the team go with a regional company, pulling at the heart-strings of Delaware Valley residents? Could Yuengling, Tastykake, or Wawa get the honor of being the team’s first jersey sponsor, or maybe a larger corporation such as Comcast, DuPont, or Sunoco be placed front and center? How about a foreign company headquartered in the area? Could that help give some “cred” to the team and the league? There are plenty to choose from, SAP America, GlaxoSmithKline, and Subaru just to name a few. What about Nutrisystems, based in Horsham, PA? The Union could compete in the HealthNut Cup against the Galaxy and RSL. Or maybe a dark horse, such as Mitchell & Ness (coincidentally owned by Adidas and having naming rights to the Phillies’ apparel store at Citizens Bank Park) could win the race?

Which of those companies value the Philadelphia market, the Philadelphia Union, the team’s extensive youth soccer marketing rights, and the passion of the fan base? Beats me. Feel free to share your suggestions in the comments section.

Then again, the ownership group doesn’t have all their eggs in one basket. Maybe Sugarman and iStar Financial could sponsor the team. Brothers Robert and Christopher Buccini, along with David Pollin and The Buccini/Pollin Group? The Swarthmore Group, founded by James Nevels? William Doran and SEI Investments Company? OK, maybe now I’m just getting a bit silly.

Or perhaps in this current economic climate – ugh, I hate that term – the team will take a page from the Bristol Rover’s handbook of jersey sponsorship (if such a book actually existed). The club decided to conduct a sponsorship draw for a chance to become the team’s official shirt sponsor for the 2009/10 season, where local businesses could buy a chance (for £1,000) to win the opportunity to see their company’s name on team jerseys. First prize gets top billing on the Rovers’ home shirt, second get their name on the away shirt, and third gets a premier ad location in the stadium.