MLS D.C. United

D.C. United Announces Sponsorship Success for 2004

Published on April 13, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
D.C. United News Release


CHANTILLY, VA (April 13, 2004) - D.C. United announced today the club's corporate partners for the 2004 Major League Soccer season. Sales for 2004 have increased more than 30 percent from the 2003 campaign on the strength of a 90 percent renewal rate. With the increase, the third consecutive season of sponsorship growth, United is within reach of the levels set in 2000, following the Black-and-Red's 1999 MLS Cup victory.

"We're, of course, thrilled at the response of the local corporate community to the 2004 version of D.C. United," said United President and CEO Kevin Payne. "We believe the combination of our deeply committed fan base, our winning tradition and our commitment to over-delivering to our partners make us attractive to local businesses. The early success of the team this year and the addition of Freddy Adu, with his ability to cross-over into multiple audiences, makes D.C. United an outstanding investment."

New for the 2004 season is the Club United Partnership Program. Club United is an initiative that serves to create a lasting bond between the team, its fans and its most significant corporate sponsors by providing partner companies with high-profile branding and hospitality elements, as well as a connection to the community through support of the community relations initiatives of D.C. United and the club's charitable arm, United for D.C.

United Bank enters their sixth year of support of the Black-and-Red as an inaugural Club United partner, supporting United Drives and the United for D.C. Charity Golf Tournament. They are joined by fifth-year sponsor McDonald's, who lend their support to the United Reads program, along with second-year sponsors GEICO and Miller & Long, who help support the Kicks for Kids program.

United's roster of returning sponsors includes a wide mix of industries, from local restaurants to city government to nationally recognized companies. Senior among United's roster is D.C. Lottery, entering its eighth year of sponsorship. Other long-term supporters of the Black-and-Red include Delta Air Lines and Western Union and national sponsors adidas and Anheuser-Busch, who are each entering their sixth seasons, along with The Electrical Alliance, a fifth-year sponsor.

Other sponsors returning to D.C. United include the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (4th season); the D.C. Department of Health-HIV/AIDS Administration, Marriott Hotels, and the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association (3rd season); and Kohl's, RadioShack and Pollo Campero (2nd season.)

Cox Communications, Domino's, ESPN Zone, JNCO Jeans, Simply Wireless and The Sports Authority join United's existing roster of sponsors for the 2004 season. For the first time, D.C. United will also receive additional local support from two long-time national Major League Soccer sponsors: Honda and the U.S. Soccer Foundation. With the addition of these nine sponsors, media and television-view signage for the 2004 season is nearly sold out.

In addition to media and day-of-game opportunities, many of D.C. United's sponsors focus on connecting with the community through support of the grassroots marketing efforts of D.C. United. Among the initiatives supported by D.C. United sponsors are the D.C. United Youth Fan Club, the D.C. United Coaches Association, the D.C. United Fan Cruiser, the MLS Futbolito 4v4 Soccer Tournament and the Community Soccer Series.

To meet the growing need for additional media opportunities, D.C. United also launched an ongoing media initiative for the 2004 season. La Tribuna del D.C. United, a half-hour weekly Spanish-language radio show, airs Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. ET on Radio Continental 1390 AM. La Tribuna joins WMDO 30's D.C. United en Accion in providing weekly analysis and insights for United's Hispanic audience.

For more information on marketing opportunities with D.C. United, please contact Skip Kruger (703-397-5444) or Eric Smith (703-397-5440).

Check out the D.C. United Statistics

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