By FRANCO PANIZO
No stranger to the soccer world, Etihad Airways has entered a partnership with Major League Soccer.
MLS and Etihad Airways announced Tuesday that they have agreed to a multiyear partnership that sees the national airline of the United Arab Emirates become the official airline partner of MLS in the United States.
The agreements marks the first multiyear sports partnership in the U.S. for Eithad Airways, which is based in Abu Dhabi. It also means the airline company and MLS will work together on a number of initiatives, including community programs and promotions for flights for MLS fans.
“We are excited to welcome Etihad Airways as the official airline partner of Major League Soccer in the United States and are proud to be the first major sports association in the U.S. for such a prestigious global company,” said MLS commissioner Don Garber in a statement. “On behalf of our clubs, our players and our millions of fans, we welcome Etihad Airways to the MLS family and look forward to working with them to help grow their business in this region.”
As part of the deal, the Etihad Airways logo and its messages will be displayed on the LED pitch-side advertising boards during nationally-televised MLS games as well as across other platforms.
“Etihad Airways has a growing portfolio of sports properties that cover the globe and we’re delighted to now add Major League Soccer, a leading international sports brand, to this group,” said president and chief executive officer of Etihad Airways James Hogan (pictured above). “The MLS partnership will enable Etihad Airways to continue to build its brand in the United States, a key market for us, and offers an ideal platform to interact with the millions of sports fans and communities across the country and showcase the airline and services.”
Etihad Airways has long been versed in soccer across the globe. In addition to MLS, the airline company is the current corporate sponsor emblazoned on the front of Manchester City’s jerseys and also has naming rights to stadiums in Melbourne and Manchester.
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