Bimbo Bakeries USA has entered into a four-year renewal as the Union's official jersey sponsor. The deal, which will continue through '23, is a first-of-its-kind in MLS, as Bimbo will have different branding on the Union's home and away kits for the upcoming season. Bimbo's relationship with the club first began in '11. The renewal also includes Bimbo and the team investing in youth soccer development and supporting the local community through various service projects (Mark J. Burns, THE DAILY). In Philadelphia, Jonathan Tannenwald notes the team and brand "finally answered fans who don't like the pejorative mainstream usage of 'bimbo' by agreeing to use one of the company's sub-brands on the Union's away jerseys." However, exactly which name will be on the jerseys "isn't known yet." Some examples of brand names that "could land on the away jersey include Entemann's, Arnold, Sara Lee, Thomas' English Muffins and Artesano," the latter of which replaced the Bimbo logo on the "warmup jerseys used for the team's playoff game this year, in what was a one-time deal." The Union declined to say how much money the latest agreement is worth; the previous deal ran from '15-19 and paid the team about $2.3M annually (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 12/4).
