TUKWILA, Wash. — The Seattle Sounders will be wearing "Xbox" across their chests for at least one more year.
Originally signed in 2009 when the Sounders joined MLS, the shirt sponsorship deal was due to expire at the end of this season.
“We’re very happy,” Sounders GM and part owner Adrian Hanauer told reporters on Wednesday. “It’s been a fantastic partnership. We’re excited to extend for a year and hopefully this leads to something even longer term.
At one point last year, it looked as if extension talks were breaking down as the Sounders hired a firm to help explore other possibilities.
“I’m not sure it’s true that we were ever far apart,” Hanauer said. “We wanted to explore the marketplace, but at the same time we always wanted to be with Xbox and Microsoft. They’re the perfect partner. Ultimately we stayed in contact and ultimately it made sense for both parties, at least on a short-term basis and hopefully we can figure out something long term from here.”
While the original shirts read “Xbox 360,” the last three seasons have simply been emblazoned with Xbox. Hanauer did not know if there would be any change to the wording now that Xbox One has been launched.
Jeremiah Oshan covers the Seattle Sounders for MLSsoccer.com.
