Sovereign\Santander, MLS Revolution Launch Multiyear, Community-Focused Partnership

The MLS Revolution on Thursday announced a multiyear deal that makes Sovereign\Santander the team's official bank. The deal will focus heavily on the pair's joint community involvement under the tagline, "One Team, One Goal." The agreement includes day-of-game sponsorships; on-site game day programs; community clinics run by Revolution players and the Revolution Academy; naming rights for the team's official "Man of the Match" award; on-field advertising during Revolution matches; trips to away games; and TV, radio, print and digital inventory. This is Sovereign\Santander's first U.S.-based soccer property (Revolution). In Boston, Greg Turner notes the Spanish-owned, Boston-based bank sponsors "several South American soccer tournaments." Brazilian soccer star Pele Thursday officially "kicked off" the parternship at Gillette Stadium. Santander, which acquired Sovereign in '09, "plans to drop the Sovereign brand eventually" (BOSTON HERALD, 9/28).