MLS: Leidos becomes shirt sponsor of DC United, Corona ends shirt sponsorship with Chivas USA

Leidos, a government consulting agency, has become the main shirt sponsor of DC United (MLS, USA-CAN) on 24/02/2014. Leidos, which has its headquarters very close to Washington, D.C. in Reston, Virginia, replaces Volkswagen on the DC United shirt.

Volkswagen was the shirt sponsor of the capital city club from 2009-2013 with a contract estimated at $2.8m (€2.1m) per year. The German automobile brand declined to renew their sponsorship in late 2013. Terms of the sponsorship deal with Leidos are undisclosed, but the contract is estimated at $3m (€2.2m) per year for 3 years with options for an additional 2 years.

Meanwhile, the beer company Corona has declined to renew its shirt sponsorship contract with the Los Angeles-based club Chivas USA (MLS, USA-CAN) on 24/02/2014. Corona had been the sponsor of Chivas USA since 2011 with a contract of $2m (€1.5m) per year for 3 years.

The MLS recently took over Chivas USA on 20/02/2014. Since the league intends to resell and rebrand the club, Chivas USA is likely to be without a shirt sponsor for the 2014 MLS season (which begins on 08/03/2014).