November 17 – New MLS franchise New York City FC, which joins the league in 2015, has announced Etihad Airways as its shirt sponsor. The club has also announced a kit deal with Adidas and will play in the same light blue colour – with the same sponsor – as sister club Manchester City.
NYCFC is controlled by Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who also owns Manchester City, current English Premier League champions who play at the Etihad Stadium. Alongside Australia’s A-League team Melbourne City, they are owned by the City Football Group company
As well as being the club’s principle partner, the Abu Dhabi-based airline
also becomes one of the club’s founding partners.
The five-year deal will see Etihad branding across the team’s playing kits, on match days at the Yankee Stadium, and across its digital platforms. Etihad with also have some unique benefits inclduing player appearances and access to the team’s training sessions. No figure for the sponsorship has been announced.
Tim Pernetti, Chief Business Officer of New York City FC, said: “This is a milestone day for New York City Football Club. Our first home jersey is a huge part of our identity and we are proud that our kit and our team will be so strongly associated with a partner of the calibre of Etihad Airways.
James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Etihad Airways has a strong affinity with New York as it was the airline’s first US destination to be launched in 2006. We are delighted to be able to further strengthen our ties with the city.”
Etihad Airways is already the official airline partner of MLS, which was sees the airline’s logo and its messages beamed across LED pitch-side advertising and on MLS digital platforms throughout the 2014 season.
Season ticket sales for New York’s newest major league franchise have been strong with 11,000 sold far for the 2015 kick off.
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