Orlando City SC has signed Bright House Networks as a founding partner, the latest deal for the first-year Major League Soccer club as it continues to build out its sponsorship roster.
The deal makes Bright House the club’s exclusive cable, Internet, home-phone and home-security partner. Financial details of the deal, expected to be announced this week, were not disclosed.
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Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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Last month, Publix and Walt Disney World Resort signed as founding partners of Orlando City. Adding Bright House to that lineup is another positive sign for a club still in its early days in MLS, said Rob Parker, the team’s vice president of corporate partnerships.
“Our attendance numbers and the buzz around the team has shown how receptive the Orlando market has been, but we’re also seeing how receptive the local corporate community has been, and they’ve really latched on as well,” he said.
Parker said the club has stressed finding the right type of brands to associate with the team being a new market in MLS, as well as finding ways to integrate those partners into the team and its stadium in some way.
In the case of Bright House, the company will equip Orlando City’s new downtown stadium (set to open next year) with telecommunication services, including Wi-Fi and Internet service for fans at the game, high-definition video services for suites and common areas, and upgraded voice communications for stadium personnel.
The company also will get signage on the scoreboard and field LED signage both in the team’s new home and at the Orlando Citrus Bowl, where the club is playing this year. It will sponsor forthcoming on-demand video content related to the team as well, Parker said.
Orlando City has received what Parker called massive traction on its digital content, adding that the team counts its Web traffic as being among the league’s leaders since the start of the 2015 season. At the gate, Orlando City has averaged more than 41,000 fans per match, including more than 62,000 fans for its inaugural MLS match.
A spokesman for Bright House said the company is excited to extend its support in the Orlando area with this partnership. Bright House touts itself as the sixth-largest owner and operator of cable systems in the United States and the second largest in Florida.
Parker said additional deals are expected for Orlando City, with the team expecting to make announcements in categories including auto, wireless and soft drink in the coming weeks. Discussions also are underway in the insurance, education and banking categories, he said.
While the club has Fairwinds Credit Union as a founding partner, Parker said there is an opening for a retail banking partner.
Orlando City now has five founding partners, with Heineken rounding out the group. The team does not have a cap set for the number of partnerships it will sell in the tier.
Parker said he is also hopeful regarding the search for a naming-rights partner for the team’s new stadium, with discussions with three to four potential partners ongoing.
“Right now we’re in a unique situation not being in our stadium,” he said, “but once we’re in that facility, our plan is to be in the top quarter of the entire league in sponsorship revenue, regardless of market size.”
