Target Announces Major Push into Soccer in the U.S.; Becomes Official Partner of Major League Soccer and Minnesota United FC
January 19 2017 - 7:00AM
Business Wire
Retailer to be featured as primary jersey
sponsor for MLS expansion club; supports several youth soccer
organizations
Today, Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) announced a series of national,
local and charitable initiatives that mark the retailer’s
largest-ever push into team sports. The move will immediately
position the company as one of the country’s largest supporters of
soccer.
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“There are so many things that drew us to soccer – it’s
multicultural, watched and played by families and is growing
immensely in popularity,” said Rick Gomez, senior vice president,
Marketing, Target. “We’ve partnered with several incredible
organizations and vendors to invite soccer fans everywhere to
engage with the Target brand in new ways.”
OFFICIAL PARTNER OF MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCERTarget will become
an Official Partner of Major League Soccer in a multi-year deal
that includes airtime during MLS broadcasts on Univision, FOX
Sports and ESPN, opportunities for in-stadium experiences, player
appearances and ownership of certain major MLS platforms, which
will be unveiled at a later date.
“We’re excited to welcome Target to the soccer family,” said
Kathy Carter, president, Soccer United Marketing, MLS’ commercial
arm. “It’s great to see such a holistic approach being taken – from
the professional ranks to the youth level. It’s also ideal timing
as Target’s hometown club, Minnesota United FC, joins Major League
Soccer this year. We look forward to working together for many
years to come.”
OFFICIAL PARTNER AND JERSEY SPONSOR OF MINNESOTA UNITED
FCIn addition to the national MLS sponsorship, Target will
prominently extend its involvement to its Twin Cities hometown.
Target will become an Official Partner of Minnesota United FC and
the team’s official jersey sponsor, which will put the Target
bullseye logo prominently on the team’s official jersey. The jersey
will be revealed in late February. The deal also includes on-field
branding and events.
“We are proud to announce that Target, a great Minnesota-based
company, will be Minnesota United’s first MLS kit sponsor. Target
believes they have a role to play in fueling the potential of
soccer and soccer players at all levels in Minnesota and the entire
club is thrilled to have them as a partner,” said Nick Rogers,
president, Minnesota United FC. “I can’t wait to see our players
and fans proudly displaying the iconic Target bullseye across their
chests. Together, Target and Minnesota United will represent the
state of Minnesota in our global game.”
COMMITMENT TO YOUTH SOCCERFinally, Target is also
committing to further youth soccer’s considerable U.S. growth
through financial support of both US Youth Soccer and the U.S.
Soccer Foundation. Target is partnering with US Youth Soccer, a
leader among youth-sports organizations in the country. US Youth
Soccer features more than three million players between the ages of
five and 19, along with 900,000 coaches, volunteers and
administrators. Target will become the Official Retailer of US
Youth Soccer, an Official Partner and the presenting sponsor of the
Target United Cup – the largest recreational soccer tournament in
the country that will visit 30 to 40 cities. The Target brand will
also be featured prominently within several other US Youth Soccer
program, including digital media integrations and event
activations.
“Youth soccer is all about creating memories and serving youth
athletes and their families,” said Christopher Moore, CEO of US
Youth Soccer. “We’re extremely proud to be a part of such a
landmark partnership with Target, whose strong brand and unwavering
commitment to uniting communities will create more unforgettable
memories for the millions of players, parents, coaches, referees
and volunteers who contribute to the game of soccer at the youth
level.”
Additionally, Target provided a $75,000 grant to the U.S. Soccer
Foundation to support national expansion of the organization’s
Soccer for Success program, which is a free after-school program
that is proven to help kids establish healthy habits and develop
critical life skills through caring coach-mentors and family
engagement.
VENDOR ENGAGEMENTTarget will partner with a number of its
leading vendors on the push into soccer, including Belkin, Crest,
Degree, Dove, Energizer, GE, Gillette, GSK, Hershey’s,
Kimberly-Clark, Philips, Scotch-Brite, Smuckers, Tide and
Venus.
For more information, visit
http://corporate.target.com/article/2017/01/soccer
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests
at 1,803 stores and at Target.com. Since 1946, Target has given 5
percent of its profit to communities, which today equals more than
$4 million a week. For more information, visit
Target.com/Pressroom. For a behind-the-scenes look at Target, visit
Target.com/abullseyeview or follow @TargetNews on Twitter.
For more information, visit Target.com/Pressroom.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170119005221/en/
Target Public RelationsJenna Reck, 612-761-5829orTarget Media
Hotline, 612-696-3400
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