MLS Revolution Sign Jersey Sponsorship Deal With United Healthcare

The MLS Revolution have signed a multiyear deal with United Healthcare to become the team’s first-ever jersey sponsor. The team and medical insurance provider announced the partnership at an informal press conference Friday at Gillette Stadium alongside 1,000 local youth players, as well as the team’s professional, U14 and U16 academy teams. “We’ve talked with several companies over the years [about the jersey sponsorship] but in United Healthcare we found a partner who wants to leverage our assets,” said team COO Brian Bilello. United Healthcare first partnered with the Kraft Group in '10 as the presenting sponsor of the Patriots’ training camp. Bilello said the partnership would deepen the team’s involvement with local programs aimed at fighting childhood obesity and diabetes and promoting general wellness. The Revolution debuted their new jersey Saturday against Sporting KC. The team declined to discuss terms of the deal (Fred Dreier, SportsBusiness Journal). SPORTING NEWS' Brian Straus noted the jersey deal "will boost the bottom line and the club's relationship with the business community." The Revolution had been one of four MLS clubs that "never sold the real estate on the front of its shirt." There currently are five teams are without jersey sponsors: the Fire, Crew, Rapids, FC Dallas and Sporting KC (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 4/22).