Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) today announced its sponsorship of the Mexican
National Team for the team’s annual U.S. Tour, beginning with today’s
game against Ivory Coast at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The
sponsorship further establishes Wells Fargo’s commitment to supporting
soccer in the U.S., building on the company’s July 31 announcement of a
national sponsorship of Major League Soccer (MLS). Both agreements run
through 2016.
“Soccer is a growing sport in the U.S., with a dedicated fan base, and
Wells Fargo is proud to support MLS, the Mexican National Team and the
‘beautiful game’ of soccer,” said Jamie Moldafsky, Wells Fargo Chief
Marketing Officer. “We believe this is an incredible opportunity to
connect with local communities and soccer fans across the country to
share Wells Fargo’s passion for their financial success, as well as the
sport of soccer.”
The company unveiled
its support of soccer during the 2013 AT&T MLS All-Star Game in
Kansas City, KS. Today’s Mexico-Ivory Coast game in New Jersey, the
fourth of five U.S. Tour matches in 2013, will again showcase Wells
Fargo’s commitment to the sport.
“We welcome and thank Wells Fargo for their support of the tour which
allows ‘el Tricolor’ to visit all of its fans across the United States
annually,” said Justino Compean, president of the Federacion Mexicana de
Futbol, the Mexican soccer Federation.
In addition, through its sponsorship of the Mexican National Team, Wells
Fargo secures a second national soccer platform to introduce and
strengthen the Wells Fargo brand in the minds of the 90 million soccer
fans across the U.S. The agreement also allows Wells Fargo and the
Mexican National Team to work together on philanthropic and community
programs during the team’s annual U.S. Tour.
These community programs complement similar efforts within MLS, where
Wells Fargo is a presenting partner of the MLS WORKS Community MVP
program, recognizing individuals who go above and beyond to make a
difference in their communities. Each year, one Community MVP is
selected to represent each of the 19 MLS clubs across North America.
During the 2013 AT&T MLS All-Star Game, Bobby
Samra, the 2013 grand prize winner, was presented with a $20,000
donation from Wells Fargo and MLS WORKS to help support the charity of
his choice.
“We are excited to welcome Wells Fargo to the soccer family,” said Kathy
Carter, President of Soccer United Marketing. “Soccer fans are
passionate, loyal and community-oriented – qualities that Wells Fargo
and their team members share and embody everyday as they seek to help
their customers succeed financially.”
About Wells Fargo & Company
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified,
community-based financial services company with $1.4 trillion in assets.
Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides
banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial
finance through more than 9,000 stores, 12,000 ATMs, and the Internet
(wellsfargo.com), and has offices in more than 35 countries to support
the bank’s customers who conduct business in the global economy. With
more than 270,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three
households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 25
on Fortune’s 2013 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells
Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help
them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at
blog.wellsfargo.com.
About Major League Soccer
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight
professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. MLS features
many stars from the U.S., Canada, and around the world. Major League
Soccer’s 18th season features 19 clubs each playing 34 regular-season
matches. Those clubs include the Chicago Fire; Chivas USA; Colorado
Rapids; Columbus Crew; D.C. United; FC Dallas; Houston Dynamo; 2012 MLS
Cup champion LA Galaxy; Montreal Impact; New York Red Bulls; New England
Revolution; Philadelphia Union; Portland Timbers; Real Salt Lake; San
Jose Earthquakes; Seattle Sounders FC; Sporting Kansas City; Toronto FC
and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. New York City FC, was unveiled May 21, 2013.
For more information about MLS, log on to the league’s official website
at www.MLSsoccer.com.
About Soccer United Marketing
Founded in 2002, Soccer United Marketing (SUM) is the preeminent soccer
business company in North America. SUM holds the exclusive rights to the
most important soccer properties in the region, including: all
commercial rights to Major League Soccer; the United States Soccer
Federation; promotional and marketing rights to Mexican National Team
games played in the United States, and the CONCACAF Gold Cup™. SUM also
manages promotional and marketing rights in the United States for
Mexico’s most popular sports team, Club Deportivo Guadalajara (Chivas).
In 2009, SUM announced the creation of the MLS Digital Properties, the
only soccer advertising network of its kind, covering all facets of the
sport in the U.S., and which allows advertisers to reach millions of
soccer fans via online advertising and sponsorships campaigns. These
global properties are represented by SUM’s slogan: One Sport. One
Company.™ For more information, please visit www.SUMworld.com.
Copyright Business Wire 2013