BMO has decided "not to re-up" as Toronto FC's jersey sponsor for the '15 season, according to Kurtis Larson of the TORONTO SUN. The bank, which reportedly pays "close to" $4M annually, has been the team's jersey sponsor since its inaugural MLS season in '07. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Chief Commercial Officer Dave Hopkinson said the club is "in the process of productive conversations with a number of potential new kit partners and look forward to welcoming them to the TFC team before the end of the year." Larson notes the bank's decision "won't impact TFC's stadium name," which will remain BMO Field until the end of '16 (TORONTO SUN, 9/23). In Toronto, Morgan Campbell noted it is "not the best time for the club to secure a new sponsor for its jersey." TFC has been "plagued by a winless streak amid persistent reports" that F Jermain Defoe "plans to return to England." The team, which has only won three games since mid-July, last month "fired its entire coaching staff." While TFC's supporter base "makes the club attractive to a potential sponsor, Hopkinson and others agree the company that winds up on the club's jersey needs to be committed to soccer instead of just using players as a billboard." But York Univ. sports business professor Vijay Setlur said that the club's recent losses "don't inspire a sponsor to spend big money for a spot on a TFC jersey." However, Hopkinson is confident that Defoe's return from injury "will revive the team’s performance, boosting interest among fans and potential jersey sponsors" (TORONTO STAR, 9/22).
