New MLS Sponsor: Burger King?

[SoccerPrime]

from SA...

The Whopper is now the official hamburger of MLS, reports Sports Business Journal, which notes that MLS has signed its first national sponsorship deal with a fast-food chain. The seven-figure, multiyear agreement was spurred by Burger King's desire to "expand its penetration of the Hispanic market." It includes a sweepstakes promotion offering a chance to win a trip to MLS Cup and an opportunity to score $100,000 in a shooting contest. ...

http://www.mlsnet.com/about/partners.jsp

[Aerick]

Great. I hate Burger King.

Although, their latest radio ad on the BK Stackers is pretty funny.

"Patty-on-patty technology..."

[Merrill]

Seems like a natural sponsor for Real Salt Lake. Their colors are even nearly the same as ours.

Then we could trade in Leonardo for that creepy King guy.

[I_Believe_In_Kreis]

Originally Posted by Merrill

Seems like a natural sponsor for Real Salt Lake.

Except RSL's already sponsored by KFC.

So Burger King is now the official monounsaturated trans fat supplier of MLS. KFC is it for Real. Pizza Hut is it for FC Dallas. Does it seem strange to anybody else that soccer, widely regarded as the sport requiring the most physical strength and endurace, is being largely kept afloat in America by three fast food companies?

As an aside, I think RSL and KFC are in bed much more than we think. Within a few years expect to see KFC's logo on RSL's jerseys while you catch a game at KFC Park (which I propose we call "Kentucky Fried Stadium").

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by I_Believe_In_Kreis

expect to see KFC's logo on RSL's jerseys while you catch a game at KFC Park (which I propose we call "Kentucky Fried Stadium").

The Bucket! 😛

[Aerick]

I like "The Bucket" better, because this isn't Kentucky.

[fuegote]

The Walls Street Journal reported today that MLS will now feature sponsors on the front of their kits. The sponsor can't be more than 500k/year, 200k goes to the MLS offices, and MLS has to approve the company (no casinos or hard liquor ads).

[SoccerPrime]

Originally Posted by fuegote

The Walls Street Journal reported today that MLS will now feature sponsors on the front of their kits. The sponsor can't be more than 500k/year, 200k goes to the MLS offices, and MLS has to approve the company (no casinos or hard liquor ads).

Does that mean the Teams will independently find the sponsors or that MLS will find them?

[I_Believe_In_Kreis]

Originally Posted by fuegote

The sponsor can't be more than 500k/year, 200k goes to the MLS offices.

Out of curiosity, why would MLS place an upper limit on how much money the sponsorship can cost? Is it to try to keep the playing field level for big vs. small market teams? I thought that's what the salary cap is for?

So with the salary cap ensuring some degree of parity, why would MLS object to teams pocketing the extra cash (and the league pocketing some as well)?

[fuegote]

In MLS news: (from the Wall Street Journal): Ad Score! Major League Soccer Teams Will Sell Ad Space on Players' Jerseys

But starting next spring, MLS will be the first major team sports league in the U.S. to showcase ads where viewers can't miss them: on the fronts of player jerseys.

No advertiser has officially signed on to sponsor an MLS jersey yet for next season...

Teams don't have complete freedom to sign jersey sponsors. MLS is establishing a "floor" of $500,000 a year for uniform sponsors, with the league collecting a flat fee of about $200,000 from all deals. In addition, the commissioner's office has authority to reject deals, and the league ewon't allow hard liquor or Internet casinos to buy space on uniforms.

"We don't want the local bail-bonds company on the front of the Columbus Crew jersey," says MLS commissioner Don Garber.