Rhode Island FC pro soccer club unveils jersey and announces key sponsorship
WARWICK – The state's new pro soccer club has secured a national airline as its inaugural front-of-jersey sponsor ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season.
Breeze Airways – which recently established an operating base at Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport – signed a multi-year partnership with Rhode Island FC, the Ocean State’s new professional USL Championship soccer club, and will be the club’s exclusive airline partner, according to a news release. The club announced the multi-year partnership Monday and unveiled its primary jersey during a press conference at Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport.
“Breeze Airways is the perfect front-of-jersey sponsor for our Club that will help us on the pitch and off,” said Rhode Island FC founder and chairman, Brett Johnson. “From the very beginning, we promised to be a club for all Rhode Island. I am proud that our team and our players will serve as ambassadors for the Ocean State.”
“As big fans of both soccer and Rhode Island, we have been waiting with bated breath for today's reveal,” said Breeze Airways President Tom Doxey. “We’re so proud of our new partnership with Rhode Island FC and seeing the Breeze logo on our very first sports jersey. ... we’re so excited to go full Ted Lasso together!" (referring to the popular Apple TV show about a happy-go-lucky American football coach-turned-soccer-coach).
Johnson and other officials from Rhode Island FC were joined by Breeze Airways executives, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee, officials from Rhode Island Commerce, the Airport Corporation, and the state’s tourism division. The club will unveil its secondary kit – also featuring Breeze Airways’ branding on the front – at a fan party later this evening in Pawtucket.
“Breeze Airways is an important and growing brand in Rhode Island and it is fitting that they will be connected with our state’s only independent professional sports team. It’s truly a winning combination that will promote tourism and everything our great state offers,” said McKee.
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Rhode Island FC's home jersey, dubbed the “Energy Jersey,” takes its design inspiration from the lightning bolt motif in RIFC's branding.
Breeze joins Centreville Bank and Rhode Island Energy which had been previously announced as the right sleeve and upper back-of-jersey sponsors, respectively. Breeze is currently one of only two national or international airlines to have a presence on the front of an American men’s professional soccer team. The only other airline to serve as a front-of-jersey sponsor in American men’s soccer is Etihad Airways which sponsors New York City FC in MLS.
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Saugy dogs and a Gansett before a flight These restaurants are coming to TF Green.
Rhode Island FC will make its USL Championship debut in early March 2024 and will play its home matches during its inaugural season at Beirne Stadium at Bryant University while the state-of-the-art Stadium at Tidewater Landing is completed.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: What's on Rhode Island FC soccer club's jersey? Here are the sponsors
