Sponsors of Professional Sports and
Athletes
Sponsors are a must for
any sports team and professional athlete. Olympians have them, golfers have
them and gymnasts will present a certain company on their leotards. Sponsors
help to fund an athlete’s career or make sure a team has everything needed to
succeed. There are some major businesses and names sponsoring teams around the
world.
Nike: The Biggest US Sponsor for Clothing
Nike is the biggest
sponsor in the US when it comes to clothing, especially for professional soccer
players. When watching the Olympics, you will usually see that the American
athletes are all sponsored by Nike. If they can’t wear the logo on their
leotards or running gear, which is unlikely, they will have it on their
tracksuits and clothing while giving professional and planned interviews or
news conferences.
Nike offers high quality
products, which is so important when it comes to any type of sport. The players
need to be comfortable, so they can perform at the best of their ability. It
has been in business since 1964, although traded under a different name until
1971. It started sponsoring players quite quickly after that, with the biggest
known, earliest endorser being Michael Jordan in 1984.
Reebok: The Hockey Clothing Sponsor
The National Hockey League
has a different sponsor for clothing. Reebok is named as the official supplier.
In fact, this brand holds the exclusive rights for the supplying of the
clothing, including footwear, active wear and even the jackets.
Reebok originally started
in 1895 but under a different name. In the United Kingdom, it became known as
Reebok in 1958 but the quality of the products didn’t change. Over the years,
the company has sponsored a number of individual players on various sports
teams, including a few football, baseball and basketball players. However,
hockey remains the favourite. Just a small number of professional soccer
players are sponsored by Reebok.
McDonalds: the Fast Food Sponsor
It is not just clothing
lines that sponsor the athletes and teams. As a whole, teams need to be
sponsored by highly reputable businesses that have a good income to keep the
money in the clubs. McDonalds is just one of those big named sponsors.
Founded in 1948, the fast
food restaurant is known to be the biggest worldwide restaurant of its kind. It
doesn’t shy away from the public and has numerous deals to help feed families.
Of course, that doesn’t mean it is without its controversy but it doesn’t stop
the sponsorship of players and teams.
The restaurant was one of
the official sponsors of the London Olympics 2012. Within the park was the
biggest McDonalds restaurant in the United Kingdom and was open the whole time
that the park was open. It is also the official food sponsor for professional
soccer and many stadiums around the world.
Tim Hortons: Canada’s Best Donuts
The National Hockey League
has a number of Canadian teams and is one of the most watched sports in the
country. It makes sense that Canada’s best donuts, Tim Hortons, would be an
official sponsor. It is the largest service of fast food in the whole of
Canada, meaning that revenue is perfect for sponsoring teams.
Founded in 1964, Tim
Hortons was originally run by Miles G. “Tim” Horton. He was a hockey player in
1949 but died in a car accident less than 30 years later. The sponsorship of
the hockey teams and players could be seen as a tribute to him. There have been
a number of partnerships and mergers over the years, including Wendy’s diner
and the militaries in Canada and the United States.
In 2013, Tim Hortons
gained the named rights to the new stadium being built in Hamilton, Canada, the
birth place of the restaurant. By 2014, the stadium will be finished and will
be Hamilton’s Tiger-Cats home and will be known as the Tim Hortons Field.
Pepsi and PepsiCo Canada: Official Drinks Sponsors
There are a number of
drinks sponsors around the world but Pepsi and other variations of the brand
around the world are the official sponsors for many.
Pepsi started in 1893 but
like many others were under a different name. It has always gone up against the
big brand, Coca Cola, but that hasn’t stopped it from fighting. The company
focused on niche marketing, specifically for progressive causes. During the
early years up until the middle of the last century, most companies ignored
African Americans but Pepsi did the opposite and gained a great respect for
that.
There are many sponsors of
professional sports players and teams. The sponsors help fund a number of
things, including the clothing and building of new stadiums, and in return get
the recognition and marketing. It is a fair trade, especially for those like
Olympians who don’t earn a wage for their training.
About Phil Aye
Phil is the primary
contributor for this blog. He is a blogger with a passion for sports. He also
blogs at www.sportsfantasydrafts.com.
