Jersey sponsorhip

[praxis]

On big soccer there has been a lot of talk about MLS having advertisements on their jerseys like they do everywhere else. Ugh.... There's nothing like buying a team jersey with Mazda being larger than the team logo. I really, really like what Barcelona has done. They put a charity on their jerseys. I can get behind that. I'm not sure what the cash situation is like for Unicef, but it sure would be nice if MLS opened up the jersey sponsorship only to nonprofits.

[Balanceut]

Originally Posted by praxis

On big soccer there has been a lot of talk about MLS having advertisements on their jerseys like they do everywhere else. Ugh.... There's nothing like buying a team jersey with Mazda being larger than the team logo. I really, really like what Barcelona has done. They put a charity on their jerseys. I can get behind that. I'm not sure what the cash situation is like for Unicef, but it sure would be nice if MLS opened up the jersey sponsorship only to nonprofits.

that is all very nice. I mean that sincerely. If any team in the MLS had financials even remotely as substantial as Barcelona's, then it would be pretty sensible to have charities on the jersey.

But, this league is far from financially solid. It is at least a decade from being able to go that direction.

Jersey sponsorship is a huge cash cow. That money can be used to incrementally improve the pay for players, the quality of youth development, the quality of international scouting, etc. The long term health of the league is well served by jersey sponsorship.

[prk166]

Keep in mind that Barca is paying UNICEF something like $2m a year instead of the usual advertiser paying the club. It's looking to be a good move on Barca's part in terms of trying to build their brand. I don't know if most MLS clubs are in a position to do something similar individually even assuming they'd be paying a lot less. Afterall this is still a league where a lot of developmental players make peanuts.