03 Mar Under Armour to Sponsor New York Cosmos
Under Armour announced a multi-year partnership with the New York Cosmos, marking the brand’s first professional soccer team sponsorship in the U.S.
“We are very excited about this new alliance with Under Armour,” said New York Cosmos Chief Operating Officer, Erik Stover. “We share many of the same brand values, including ambition and innovation. Under Armour is one of the fastest growing performance brands in the world and we can’t wait to share our new kit with our fans,” he added.
The kits will be unveiled on Wed., March 16 at the Under Armour Brand House in New York City.
In addition to being outfitted by Under Armour, the New York Cosmos will be scoring goals this spring with a new ball custom-designed by the global sports brand in partnership with the North American Soccer League (NASL) as announced this week.
“We are pleased to launch our partnership with the New York Cosmos,” said Peter Murray, VP Global Brand and Sports Marketing, Under Armour. “The team is a fantastic partner as we continue to help grow both the sport and our brand’s footprint here in the United States. As the reigning NASL champions, the New York Cosmos have a big season ahead and we’re excited to be part of that journey.”
As an industry leader in sports apparel, footwear and equipment, Under Armour currently outfits world-renowned soccer clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur F.C., São Paulo FC, Colo-Colo and Cruz Azul as well as players like Memphis Depay of Manchester United, Granit Xhaka of Borussia Mönchengladbach, and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup winners Lauren Holiday and Kelley O’Hara. In the fall of 2015, the brand launched its first-ever soccer campaign, “Slay Your Next Giant,” which speaks to the dedication it takes to overcome challenges at every level of the game, and to the importance of valuing the journey over the destination.
About the Cosmos
The New York Cosmos are reigning champions of the North American Soccer League (NASL), having captured their second league title in three seasons and seventh overall on Nov. 15, 2015 with a 3-2 win over Ottawa Fury FC in The Championship Final at Hofstra University’s James M. Shuart Stadium.
The Cosmos began play in 1971, spending 14 seasons in the NASL, winning five Soccer Bowl trophies and bringing some of the biggest names in world soccer to the USA. This included Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, Giorgio Chinaglia and Carlos Alberto. It had been nearly 30 years since the Cosmos, an iconic global soccer club, played in a professional league. Yet throughout their absence, the club maintained a loyal and dedicated fan following.
On Aug. 3, 2013, the New York Cosmos returned to the NASL with a sellout win at Shuart Stadium, before embarking on a season that would see the Cosmos win the 2013 Soccer Bowl with a 1-0 victory against the Atlanta Silverbacks on Nov. 9, 2013 at Atlanta Silverbacks Park.
Raúl and Marcos Senna, legends at famed Spanish sides Real Madrid and Villarreal CF, each suited up in Cosmos colors for modern era championship runs, adding their names to the impressive list of global soccer stars to feature at the club. The Cosmos submitted a privately-funded economic development proposal in 2013 to the State of New York to build a world-class 25,000-seat professional soccer stadium at Belmont Park.