Emirates airline has agreed to a multi-year deal as jersey sponsor of the reborn N.Y. Cosmos, which will begin play in the North American Soccer League this August. The deal will be announced at a press conference featuring Pelé in N.Y. on Tuesday. Outside of some hospitality deals, the Cosmos agreement will be Emirates' first sponsorship with a U.S. sports team. However, the airline has various tennis and golf sponsorships in the U.S., including title sponsorship of the U.S. Open summer tennis series. CAA Sports is Emirates' U.S. sports agency, but offered no comment on the Cosmos deal. The team and Emirates officials also have begun discussions on a naming-rights deal for a future stadium -- a venue that, as yet, has no blueprints, funding or governmental approvals. The football club will begin play in James M. Shuart Stadium on the campus of Hofstra Univ. Emirates sponsors several of Europe's top football clubs, including a stadium naming-rights and jersey deal with EPL club Arsenal, as well as sponsorships with La Liga club Real Madrid, Serie A club AC Milan and Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain.
