Current Jersey Sponsors in the MLS

Original article appeared on BrotherlyGame.com

In light of the last week's announcement by the Philadelphia Union, revealing Mexico's largest food corporation, Bimbo, as the official jersey sponsor, we take a look at the current deals around Major League Soccer.  As the league continues to grow, the demand for corporate sponsorship continues to increase.

However, four teams enter 2011 without a jersey sponsor (New England Revolution, FC Dallas, Colorado Rapids and Sporting Kansas City).  Colorado Rapids are confident about the potential for a jersey sponsor and FC Dallas has commented that a significant jersey deal is expected to be announced in 2011. Sporting KC recently commented that a stadium and kit sponsor deal is 'in the works.' Contrarily, Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew join the list of blank kits in the New Year as Best Buy and Glidden (owned by ICI Paints), respectively, decided not to extend the current deals with the MLS clubs.
During the State of the League in November 2010, MLS Commissioner, Dob Garber said,

"All but a handful of our teams have jersey front sponsors. We'll be announcing additional new sponsors probably during the next 30 to 45 days. Within the next year every one of our teams will likely have a jersey front sponsor." 

Twelve clubs will feature sponsors on the front of jerseys in the upcoming season.

Philadelphia Union's 2011 MLS SuperDraft

The Philadelphia Union has positioned itself nicely for the future with its choices in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, which is what a team should do in the draft. The Union picked in the fifth spot in each of the three rounds of the SuperDraft, and selected Maryland goalkeeper Zac MacMath in the first round, North Carolina midfielder Michael Farfan in the second, and University of Maryland Baltimore County forward Levi Houapeu in the third. What does this mean for the Union's future?

Union fans are still talking about goalkeeper Chris Seitz's unsuccessful tenure in Chester (time to let it go, folks) and his subsequent loss via the expansion draft, leaving Brad Knighton as the only goalkeeper on the roster (third goalkeeper Bryan Perk was waived in the middle of the 2010 campaign and is now with the L.A. Galaxy). Rumors about the signing of Colombian national goalie Faryd Mondragon, last under contract and playing for 1. FC Köln in Germany, have been swirling around for a few weeks now. While the signing remains unconfirmed by the Philadelphia front office, it is widely considered a done deal. If that is the case, Mondragon would undoubtedly start for the Union, ceding playtime to Knighton and mentoring both Knighton and MacMath on the finer points of playing under the goalposts. Mondragon is an experienced, able goalie who will provide security and strong direction to the Philadelphia defense. Knighton and MacMath are exciting young prospects who will benefit tremendously from Mondragon's tutelage, and when he leaves, which I would expect would be no later than the 2014 season, the then-23-year-old MacMath will be a rising star in the league. If Knighton fluorishes, he may attract the attention of European teams which would mean a decent payoff for the Union. If Mondragon does not stay until 2014, Knighton will have his chance for the Union as the starter, and MacMath will learn from Knighton as well. Expect Knighton to play around 8-10 games as the Philadelphia starter in 2011, and to see MacMath play in exhibition games and perhaps get one or two chances under goal.

Using Soccer to Fight Cancer

Original article appeared on BrotherlyGame.com

Soccer in the United States has seen various promotions of fundraising campaigns to fight disease and benefit communities.  Major League Soccer held Breast Cancer Awareness Nights with each club throughout the month in October 2010.  Special edition, pink adidas Jabulani balls were used during matches, in addition to pink Gatorade towels, goalkeeper gloves, sweatbands, patches and signage around the stadiums. All of this was made possible through the MLS W.O.R.K.S program, which develops soccer fields in urban locations and communities, promotes sustainability in soccer, and supports community service throughout the regions which the MLS impacts.