MLS: Red Bull (AUT) and Etihad (UAE) only foreign shirt sponsors of the franchises in 2015

The Austrian energy drink brand Red Bull and the Emirati airline Etihad Airways are the only foreign advertisers visible on the shirts of MLS (Major League Soccer, USA-CAN) franchises for the 2015 season, which began over the weekend of 06/03/2015 to 08/03/2015.

Two franchises have no shirt sponsor at this time: the Colorado Rapids and the San Jose Earthquakes. The contract between Herbalife and the LA Galaxy, estimated at €4m per year until 2022, is the top agreement in the league. The average shirt sponsorship is approximately €3m for the 2015 season.

• MLS is under contract with adidas until 2018 ($200m total over 8 years, 2010-2018) to be the kit supplier to all franchises in the league.
  • The German brand pays $25m (about €23m) per year to the league, which then redistributes the money to the franchises.
  • "MLS had a system with several suppliers until 2004, then adidas decided to increase its investment by becoming the official and exclusive supplier of the league. We are very pleased to partner with them ever since," stated Dan Courtemanche, executive vice-president of MLS, to…