The Houston Dynamo has new jersey partner for 2019, after being the only Major League Soccer team in 2018 to not have a kit sponsor — and it’s a well-known Houston entity.
Effective Jan. 1, 2019, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is the official jersey partner of the Dynamo, the club announced Wednesday. According to a team statement, the partnership is the first season-long cause-related jersey agreement in MLS history.
MD Anderson and the Dynamo will jointly work toward the noble goal of ending cancer by planning cancer prevention education opportunities, community outreach, survivorship celebrations, public service announcements and philanthropic initiatives through the multi-year partnership agreement.
“We are honored to join forces with the Houston Dynamo in an effort to beat this terrible disease,” said Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president of MD Anderson. “This unique collaboration will provide a platform for educating millions of fans on how they can reduce their own cancer risk and actively engage in our collective efforts toward making cancer history.”
The launch also doubled as a preview for the Dynamo’s 2019 away jersey, repeating the popular Houston Astros-inspired design from last year, with the addition of MD Anderson’s strike-through-cancer logo. Pisters and Dynamo owner Gabriel Brener led the jersey reveal with team mascot Diesel in a ceremonial “Starting XI” photo with pediatric and adult cancer survivors.
According to the release, the partnership agreement enables MD Anderson to reach a broad, diverse and international audience through joint community events with the Dynamo, stadium signage and public service announcements. The Dynamo will engage player ambassadors in cancer prevention education initiatives and will create fundraising opportunities, such as contributing a portion of the club’s ticket sales to support MD Anderson’s mission to end cancer.
“I am extremely pleased to welcome MD Anderson as a part of our club and I am proud to have such a highly respected organization on the front of our shirts,” Brener said. “I am sure that our fans will feel that same pride in knowing that they are not only supporting a club, but are also supporting a truly worthwhile mission. The opportunity for our club to help MD Anderson promote such an important cause – to end cancer – is something that was very much worth waiting for and one that excites and motivates everyone at our club.”
The team also used the new jersey partner announcement to make an additional, health-related commitment: BBVA Compass Stadium will become a tobacco- and smoke-free facility as of Jan. 1, 2019. Smoking and tobacco already were prohibited inside the seating bowl and concourse, and today’s announcement extends the policy throughout the property. According to the Dynamo, plans are also underway for healthy concession menu options to be available for the 2019 season.
The Dynamo also committed to donating a portion of single-game ticket sales to MD Anderson, along with offering fans the option to make additional donations during the purchase process.