By: Tonya Antonucci
As part of my blog, I'm answering fan questions periodically. Check out this week's question and answer - you can even listen to this week's Q&A - and then send me your questions by emailing commissioner@womensprosoccer.com!
Q: How will Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) be associated with Major League Soccer (MLS)?
A: I mentioned last week that WPS has partnered with MLS to create some synergies between the two leagues. Building a strong relationship that is beneficial to both leagues is a key to the long-term growth and success of soccer in North America, so I’m proud to share some more details with you.
The highlight of our MLS partnership is our work with Soccer United Marketing (SUM), the commercial affiliate of MLS. SUM is serving as the league’s representative for the sale of national corporate sponsorship and consumer product licenses. Through its work with MLS, SUM has developed a tremendous network of companies and brands that support soccer. In carving out our own identity in the corporate landscape, WPS will capitalize on SUM’s many relationships and overall sponsorship expertise. In the near future, we hope to share with you some of the strides SUM and WPS have made in the last few months to secure WPS sponsors.
In addition, many of our teams will work closely with their local MLS counterparts. Two of our teams have already announced that they will be sharing soccer-specific stadiums with MLS clubs. The Chicago franchise will play at Toyota Park, home of the MLS’s Chicago Fire, and our LA team, owned and operated by AEG who also own the LA Galaxy, will stage its games at the Home Depot Center, home of the Galaxy and Chivas USA. The owner of the St. Louis WPS team, Jeff Cooper, is leading a team of investors to bring an MLS team to the St. Louis area, so when that happens, the women’s team will play in the same state-of-the-art facility. Also, Dallas is working toward a stadium and operations partnership with F.C. Dallas and Pizza Hut Park, and the Washington Freedom will cooperate with D.C. United on sharing front office resources, co-marketing and playing some double headers together.
On a more informal basis, I have talked with many people at all levels and roles within MLS – including LA Galaxy star David Beckham – who truly believe in what we’re doing and want to see WPS succeed for generations to come. Whether it’s men or women on the field, we all share the same goal to advance “the beautiful game” here in North America. We’re all in this together.
Until next time...
Tonya Antonucci
WPS Commissioner
Have a question for WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci? Send it to commissioner@womensprosoccer.com.