USL Pro club Orlando City yesterday announced that Orlando Health "will continue to be the team's primary sponsor" after the team moves to MLS, according to Mark Schlueb of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. Orlando Health will "continue its three-year-old relationship with the team, and the company's logo will continue to be displayed prominently on players' jerseys and in the stadium during games." The decision came "the day before what is expected to be a much bigger announcement: that MLS is granting Orlando and the team an expansion franchise." Orlando City Owner & President Phil Rawlins "would not say how much Orlando Health paid for the sponsorship deal but said it will bring the company greater exposure as the team's games are televised." Rawlins said that Orlando Health's status as the team's presenting partner is "'pretty much equal in stature' with whomever buys naming-rights to the recently approved soccer stadium." While the stadium would be owned by Orlando, the team's deal with the city allows Orlando City "to retain revenue from what's expected to be a multiyear naming-rights deal." Orlando City said that it is "the first expansion team to sign a 'jersey partner' before actually being admitted" to MLS (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 11/19).
