EPL club Manchester United has signed a five-year deal with Wisconsin-based Kohler to be the club’s first-ever sleeve sponsor. The deal, which will put the Kohler brand logo on the jerseys of both the men’s and women’s teams and at retail, also includes participation in gameday activities and joint participation in sustainability/social responsibility projects. The company, well known for its bathroom and plumbing products, will also provide upgrades to ManU’s facilities. ManU will debut the Kohler logo in the first match of its '18 tour in the U.S., when it faces Liga MX side Club América in Phoenix. It will also participate in the Int'l Champions Cup. ManU Group Managing Dir Richard Arnold said the club has been in the market for a sleeve sponsor since the EPL first allowed the inventory at the start of last season. Kohler has more than 50 manufacturing locations worldwide, and views Asia -- China specifically -- as one of its core markets going forward. ManU will begin selling jerseys with the Kohler branding in the next few weeks after the Club América match, extending both its brand and Kohler’s. Arnold said that the club sells a jersey globally once every 11 seconds. Financial terms were not disclosed (Ian Thomas, Staff Writer).
FILLING A RARE OPENING: ESPN.com's Rob Dawson noted ManU was "one of the few Premier League clubs who did not take advantage" of adding a sleeve sponsor last season. Kohler will join primary jersey sponsor Chevy on the club's uniforms "when the new kit is unveiled next week" (ESPN.com, 7/12). In Manchester, Samuel Luckhurst wrote dating app Tinder was "rumoured to have been lined up" as ManU's sleeve sponsor last year, but the club "began the 2017-18 season without one" (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 7/12).
