Philly MLS Franchise Hires Premier Partnerships For Sales

Philadelphia's MLS Team Hires Premier Partnerships To Sell Sponsorships For New Soccer Stadium

The new Philadelphia MLS franchise has hired Premier Partnerships to "sell sponsorships and other commercial inventory in and around" the team's new 20,000 seat stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania, according to Terry Lefton in this week's SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. The stadium will be the anchor of a 100-acre, $500M mixed-use development park, and Premier will "sell commercial inventory throughout the site." Premier Partnerships President & CEO Randy Bernstein estimated that the development "would yield $50[M] or more in contractual sponsorship revenue." Though the franchise is not scheduled for play until the 2010 season, Premier will attempt to "jump-start sales by selling 'Philadelphia 2010 Under Construction' sponsorships to 12 to 18 partners, including one $250,000 presenting partnership." Premier also will sell naming rights to the stadium, for which it is seeking a 20-year deal worth $2-3M annually. Bernstein said that eight to 10 founding partnerships will be "targeted with about 40 total commercial affiliates" being sought. Bernstein added that the company "won't go to market until next month." Premier Partnerships Senior Dir of Corporate Partnerships Allison Howard is heading the company's sales effort (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/23 issue).