CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds have landed a deal that will bring the first sponsorship logo to the team’s uniforms.
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The Reds and Kroger have reached a deal that will place the Kroger logo on the team’s uniform sleeve, according to a report from the Sports Business Journal. The deal will reportedly be worth $5 million annually for Kroger to become the first non-apparel brand to be on the Reds’ uniform, according to the SBJ report.
This season will mark the first year of sponsor patches in Major League Baseball as more US leagues have started to allow jersey sponsorships. Currently, of the major domestic sports leagues, the National Hockey League and National Basketball Association have recently allowed teams to add sponsors to uniforms. The National Football League allows non-apparel brand sponsors on practice uniforms but not game-day uniforms.
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The sleeve sponsorship will not be the first for the Cincinnati-based grocer. Since 2020, Kroger has been the sleeve sponsor for Major League Soccer’s FC Cincinnati.
The Reds deal at $5 million a year for the sleeve sponsorship is among the lowest annually from the known deals in MLB, according to the SBJ report. In comparison, the San Diego Padres will receive around $9 million annually for their deal while the Boston Red Sox reached a deal that will pay $17 million annually over the next 10 years, the report indicates.
Reds pitchers and catchers report to Goodyear, Arizona for the start of spring training February 15.
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