D.C. United will announce a wide-ranging deal with Volkswagen to become the team’s primary sponsor, including the display of its corporate logo on the front of the team’s jersey, at a news conference today in which it will unveil a “presenting partner.”
Details of the announcement were not released, but The Examiner first reported the potential of an arrangement with Volkswagen last week after a D.C. United player was seen inside RFK Stadium wearing a team jersey bearing the automaker’s logo.
D.C. United’s new uniform will make its official debut Thursday night in a nationally televised match against the Chicago Fire.
United is the ninth of 14 MLS teams to sell the front of its jersey to a corporate sponsor, inking the second-largest deal in the league, according to sources with knowledge of the arrangement. The Los Angeles Galaxy currently has the top contract, reportedly earning $4-5 million a year from Herbalife through 2011.
The German automaker also will become a sponsor of Major League Soccer.
Volkswagen of America recently strengthened its ties to the Washington area by moving its headquarters from Detroit to Herndon. It has announced major sales targets increases in North America over the next ten years.
Volkswagen also unveiled a special “United” series of cars lastfall in Germany as part of its sponsorship of a major German indoor soccer tournament.
D.C. United had a potential shirt sponsorship with Verizon Wireless collapse last fall, according to a source. The team removed the signature stripes from its jersey this season in anticipation of a deal.
Major League Soccer had been without major auto sponsor and had relinquished its exclusivity in the automobile category after Honda ended its 12-year sponsorship deal with the league last year.
