Sponsors of Professional Sports and Athletes

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.