The New England Revolution announced Monday that adidas will become the team's official uniform and equipment supplier beginning with the 2005 season. During the course of the exclusive 10-year partnership announced last November between adidas and MLS, adidas will hold the exclusive rights to outfit all 12 MLS clubs, as well as supplying the League's Official Match Ball. The addition of the Revolution raises the total number of clubs outfitted by adidas in 2005 to nine (of 12 MLS clubs).
"For the Revolution, the opportunity to be outfitted in adidas is ideal," said Craig Tornberg, General Manager of the Revolution. "The three stripes of adidas are recognized throughout the world as a leader in the sport of soccer. We are excited to be part of adidas' vision to support MLS and American soccer."
adidas has been a partner of MLS since the League's inception and in 2005, in addition to outfitting the Revolution, adidas will become the supplier of the League's two expansion clubs: Club Deportivo Chivas USA (Los Angeles, CA) and Real Salt Lake (Salt Lake City, UT), as well as the Colorado Rapids (Denver, CO), FC Dallas (Dallas, TX) and the San Jose Earthquakes (San Jose, CA). The company is a charter supplier of MLS Cup 2004 champions D.C. United (Washington, DC), the Columbus Crew (Columbus, OH) and the Kansas City Wizards (Kansas City, MO).
The landmark 10-year partnership between adidas and MLS incorporates every aspect of the game, from product creation, to player development, grassroots programs, television rights and retail distribution. Under the agreement, adidas will be granted exclusive rights to sales of all MLS League and team-branded product, including apparel and equipment, and exclusive broadcast advertising rights for all MLS games during the next 10 years.
The Generation adidas program was unveiled as the first major player development initiative as part of the partnership agreement. The new youth player development program, designed to identify and nurture the elite youth soccer talent in the United States, kicked off in January with the signing of 12 of the top young soccer players in the nation to MLS and adidas contracts.
Beginning in 2005 with Major League Soccer's 10th season, adidas apparel and equipment will be featured in major retail stores across the country as part of extensive national retail development plans for an expanded MLS product offering. Additionally, adidas will develop MLS-specific advertising and marketing programs along with commercially supporting every team.
The Revolution will host the Columbus Crew on April 9 at Gillette Stadium in the home opener of the Revs' 10th season. Ticket information is available by calling 1-877-GET-REVS.
