HOUSTON, TX
- The Houston Dynamo has a new friend.
The franchise has reached a four-year sponsorship agreement with Amigo Energy, which makes the Houston-based retail electricity provider the largest sponsor in team history. As part of the commitment, Amigo Energy becomes the official jersey sponsor of the Dynamo. The defending MLS champions are the fifth league team to sign jersey sponsors, along with Los Angeles, Chivas USA, Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC.
The Amigo Energy logo will appear on all team jerseys, along with other on-field gear, effective this Sunday, August 19 when the Dynamo take on FC Dallas. Amigo Energy also becomes the official home and business retail energy provider of the Dynamo. As part of the deal, Amigo Energy will establish a focused marketing strategy that uses the Dynamo in co-branded advertising, customer retention, and new customer acquisition programs.
"Like the Houston Dynamo, Amigo Energy is a dynamic company and an exciting brand for the city of Houston," said Oliver Luck, president of the Dynamo. "Both of our companies focus on building a customer base from all sectors of the city, and attempt to build our respective businesses with a long-term commitment to customer satisfaction. We look forward to growing together in exciting fashion; we and our fans are proud that Amigo has joined other brands in the global arena of jersey sponsorship."
Prior to 2007, Major League Soccer jersey sponsorships were limited to backs of jerseys in national advertising packages. Now, sponsorships are sold locally by individual teams. Corporate sponsorship on major sports' team uniforms has been mostly non-existent in the American landscape until MLS began selling jersey fronts this season. The evolution has created trend-setting opportunities for MLS teams and their business partners. As a result, these sponsorships provide worldwide visibility and incredible brand association between a team and corporate partner, thus leading to incredible fan loyalty toward the sponsor.
"This is a natural fit for Amigo and the Houston community," said Javier Vega, president and CEO of Amigo Energy. "The Dynamo and Amigo are both energetic, young contenders in tough, competitive fields, and we are both over-achievers with a strong desire to support the Houston community. Through sports entertainment and affordable electric rates, Dynamo and Amigo continue to provide affordable alternatives and unparalleled value to hard-working Texas families of increasingly diverse cultures. We look forward to bringing increased awareness to Amigo Energy's Hispanic-focused products through this Dynamo partnership."
The new replica Dynamo jersey with the Amigo Energy logo is being produced by adidas. These jerseys are expected to be available at retail establishments in January 2008. The Dynamo-FC Dallas contest featuring the Amigo Energy logo debut is set for 6:00 p.m. Sunday. (Ch. 55, Galavision, 790 AM, 850 AM, 101.7 FM)
