Indy Eleven to Partner With Honda
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndy Eleven Professional Soccer has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Honda Manufacturing of Indiana LLC and Central Indiana Honda Dealers. The agreement means Honda's name will appear on the front of the team's uniforms. Honda will serve as the “Official Automobile of Indy Eleven.”
October 1, 2013
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Indy Eleven Professional Soccer, Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC (HMIN) and Central Indiana Honda Dealers are proud to announce a major corporate partnership that will continue to drive the growth of the North American Soccer League club heading into its inaugural 2014 season and beyond. The three-year Indy Eleven-Honda partnership includes Honda's status as the “Official Automobile of Indy Eleven” and locks in the coveted jersey-front logo designation for Honda on all uniforms to be worn by the Indiana side through the entirety of the agreement.
“Indy Eleven's partnership with Honda sets the tone for what this club plans to achieve in forming meaningful and lasting partnerships within the business community,” said Indy Eleven Owner Ersal Ozdemir. “While its national and international recognition can assist in getting Indy Eleven wider exposure, it is the possibilities provided by Honda’s Indiana connections that excite us most.”
This morning's announcement precedes Indy Eleven's monumental fan celebration taking place this evening at The Rathskeller, at which the afore mentioned team jerseys will be revealed to the public. In conjunction with the jersey-front sponsor portion of the partnership, Indy Eleven has announced that Central Indiana Honda Dealers locations will be the first outlets at which the team’s new jerseys will be made available for purchase when they go on sale to the public in the coming months.
“The Honda team of 2,000+ Hoosier employees at our Greensburg plant is excited for the upcoming season with Indy Eleven,” said Bob Nelson, HMIN president. “This partnership is a tremendous opportunity for the entire Honda family.”
“In a town where pro teams impact our daily lives and community livelihood, we're excited and proud to be a major partner of Indiana’s newest sports organization,” said Dave Piercefield, President of Central Indiana Honda Dealers.
After nearly a year of putting together the building blocks for professional soccer in the Hoosier State, today's partnership announcement with Honda is another strong signal of growth for Indy Eleven as the team builds momentum towards its inaugural 2014 season.
Along with tonight's impending announcement of the club’s first-ever player and the long-awaited unveiling of its jerseys, Indy Eleven continues to boost its already NASL-best season ticket base, today confirming the club has reached the 6,000 season ticket deposit plateau a full six months before it plays its first official NASL match.
“The Honda name is synonymous with quality and reliability, and we believe those traits will carry over to the players and fans that will proudly wear the Indy Eleven jersey,” said Indy Eleven President/General Manager Peter Wilt. “Our club looks forward to working with Honda Manufacturing of Indiana and Central Indiana Honda Dealers to create impactful ways in which we can give back to the local soccer community and make Indiana a better place to live and work.”
Honda Manufacturing of Indiana and Central Indiana Honda Dealers are no strangers when it comes to helping grow soccer in the Hoosier State, with its support of the Indiana Soccer State Cup and Mayor's Latino Soccer Cup tournaments counting among its several outreach endeavors. While Honda's presence in the auto racing realm requires no explanation to most Hoosiers, the organization has also served as a national partner for both Little League Baseball and Softball across the last 17 years.
Since Honda's 2006 announcement that a new manufacturing facility would be based in Greensburg, Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC (HMIN) has been as focused on being quality neighbors as it has been in creating quality automobiles. The 1600-acre HMIN site was designed to have the smallest environmental footprint of all Honda North American auto plants. The zero waste-to-landfill facility earned the EPA's ENERGY STAR certification in 2012, proving that the company's commitment to its 2000+ associates is matched by its level of concern for the environment. For more information on HMIN, visit www.indiana.honda.com.
The Central Indiana Honda Dealers share a commitment to public service and offer an enriching environment through diversity and teamwork, while maintaining the highest standard of professional integrity. For more information on Central Indiana Honda Dealers, including a listing of all ten locations and the full line of Honda vehicles, visit www.CentralIndianaHondaDealers.com.
About Indy Eleven
Born Indy Pro Soccer after launching as the 11th member of the North American Soccer League January 16, 2013, Indy Eleven established its permanent identity 99 days later on the 152nd anniversary of the establishment of the 11th Indiana Regiment during the Civil War on April 25th, 1861. The NASL is the officially-sanctioned Second Division of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. The NASL member teams are: the 2013 Spring Season Champion Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, FC Edmonton, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, New York Cosmos, Minnesota United FC, San Antonio Scorpions FC, the defending NASL Soccer Bowl champion Tampa Bay Rowdies, Indy Eleven (2014), Ottawa Fury FC (2014), Virginia Cavalry FC (2014), Oklahoma City (2015) and Jacksonville (2015). Indy Eleven is expected to kick off its inaugural season on April 5, 2014.
Source: Indy Eleven