Montreal Impact Announce BMO as Primary Sponsor for 2012 MLS Season
Joey Saputo, president of the Montreal Impact, announced on Tuesday the Canadian banking financial group, Bank of Montreal (BMO), as the primary partner and shirt sponsor for their inaugural season in Major League Soccer for 2012. He made the announcement as he sat in front of a BMO banner overlooking Saputo Stadium decorated with BMO dasher boards. The sponsorship is a 5-year deal but other terms of the contract were not announced.
As official sponsor, BMO will have its logo displayed on the Montreal Impact jersey, in a section of Saputo Stadium, on the players’ bench, at the stadium’s main entrance and on tickets.
“Today we have reached another historic milestone,” said Joey Saputo, president of the Montreal Impact. “It is with great pride that we announce a great partnership for a great soccer city. BMO Financial Group is a financial institution that is constantly increasing its involvement with the soccer community. I applaud their initiatives to support soccer across the country. Through BMO, the Impact is giving its firm commitment to remain accessible even after it enters MLS. It’s also the biggest sponsorship deal in the Montreal Impact history.
BMO claims a passion for soccer and is involved with the game in Canada from the youth level to the pros. “We are delighted to be joining the Montreal Impact as the exclusive presenting partner when the team makes its entry into MLS in 2012,” said L. Jacques Ménard, President, BMO Financial Group, Quebec. “This important partnership is proof of our mutual commitment to developing soccer in Quebec. BMO is proud to associate its brand with the world’s most popular sport and with a team that will pull in crowds and thrill Montrealers and Quebecers,” added Mr. Ménard.
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What does that mean for Toronto?
I don’t have the answer to that but I’ve wondered the same thing.
Nothing… their deal with BMO is still good for a couple more years (unless i’m mistaken, until 2016).
Will be interesting to see two MLS teams with the same jersey sponsor. But any organization willing to invest more into the league is good for the game.
The funny thing is that BMO isn’t nearly as big as RBC, TD, or CIBC, which are all massive banks that play a heavy hand in sports sponsorships. In fact you yanks might recognize all those names because they all own stadium in the U.S. CIBC always buys up the “official bank of the FIFA World Cup for Canada.” And Scotiabank really supports the CFL and the NHL. So to have a bank (BMO) that gives two poops about soccer… I can dance to that tune.
I’ve read that 2 teams with the same shirt sponsors is not a new thing. In
England, there’s Aston Villa and Fulham with FXPro. There are 2 others in south america as well. It will add to the rivalry at best.
Happy to see IMFC becoming more pro as they prepare for the 2012 season.
Do they go by B.M. for short?
Good for them. Montreal is going to be a good addition to the league.
…now if only the Fire can find themselves a sponsorship.
With the Fire, I almost think they are going to have to sort of reinvent themselves. Better players, coach and team that wins and then renewed ticket sales. Once the vibe gets going again the sponsorship will be easier to find.
If you go to a game in Montreal make sure you stay at the hotel de la montagne.
Its been a few years since my last visit – but this was always a nice place for fun and distractions from the daily business grind