The jersey for Spokane’s new professional men’s soccer club is sure to bring hometown pride to players and fans. Kits typically have sponsors placed on the sleeve, back, and front center. But, the Spokane Velocity FC kit will disrupt the norms – and for good reason. The recently-released “Community Kit” will sport a QR Code on the front of the jersey bringing together the community and the team in an innovative way.
The Community Kit provides organizations the opportunity to spend one month of the year as the Kit partner of a professional soccer team – something that does not currently exist in the professional soccer landscape. Each month, the QR Code will direct fans to a customized landing page that highlights the sponsoring organization as well as a non-profit organization the sponsor would like to feature. Velocity will give back 10% of each month’s corporate sponsorship dollars raised from the partnership to the sponsor’s charity of choice. And, the sponsor or their preferred nonprofit will receive a month of brand and marketing promotion on the club’s digital marketing and stadium assets, bringing each brand’s passion to life in the live-sports arena, live streaming, and local television.
Also on the front, opposite the Velocity FC crest on the chest, is the Capelli Sport logo. Capelli is the club’s official and exclusive partner providing uniforms, performance apparel, and equipment.
Velocity FC is also excited to announce the back-of-kit and sleeve sponsors. Brick West Brewing Co., an Impact Blue Elite Partner of the club and an Official Pub Partner, is the 2024 back-of-kit sponsor. Gallagher, a local insurance provider, is proud to be the 2024 sleeve sponsor.
“We tried to align with brands who are really excited about our project, were involved early on, and align with our values,” said Ryan Harnetiaux, Co-Owner and Managing Partner of USL Spokane.
“Brick West has become the hallmark of craft beer excellence in our region, and their downtown location is a place for comradery, community, and celebration,” said Tate Kelly, USL Spokane Vice President of Partnerships. “We cannot wait to be part of a packed Brick West Brewing house for game watches, pre-match and post-match celebrations, and more.”
Brick West is also an Impact Blue Elite Partner signifying their position as a strong supporter of bringing professional soccer to the Inland Northwest and in doing so driving economic development, career opportunities, and greater sports equity in our region and nation.
Gallagher is a local insurance agency that believes providing insurance, risk management and business consulting services means being there to see through decisions, add value, and position organizations for success.
“Gallagher’s emphasis on investing in people and the wellbeing of organizations, and how to secure what matters in a fast-changing world aligns with our values here at USL Spokane,” said Kelly. “We are super proud they adorn our kit’s sleeve.”
Harnetiaux’s inspiration for the Community Kit approach was making the new club and its brand value accessible to the community. Harnetiaux shared that the front-of-kit sponsor placement is the holy grail of marketing activation for any brand due to its high visibility. Traditionally, that has meant a very high price tag. He felt that in a market the size of Spokane, there are a limited number of businesses who have the resources to make this size of an investment.
“We felt that if the front-of-kit assets could be divided up—using a QR-code—this kit placement could be both affordable for businesses to invest in, and serve as a delivery point to raise awareness around the nonprofit organizations these businesses support financially,” said Harnetiaux. “We believe that in doing this, it unlocks value for everyone involved and benefits many in the community.”
Creating a QR Code and linking to our Community Kit landing page was very simple to do, said Harnetiaux, and then it was about working with our partners at Capelli Sport and Zome Design to effectively attach the code to our kits and not lose its integrity.
“The Community Kit is a collaboration between USL Spokane, the business community and the nonprofits they support—it’s a first of its kind in the live-sports space, and our goal here is to highlight local businesses, and raise awareness—and dollars—for the incredible nonprofits in the Spokane community.”
The Community Kit program, along with the support of other dedicated sponsors, is shining light on the best of our community and doing good for those who do good for others. By partnering with new organizations every month as well as Brick West Brewing Co. and Gallagher, Velocity FC aims to elevate regional businesses in the soccer arena and contribute positively to the economic and social fabric of the Spokane area. This unique approach to sponsorship reinforces the club’s dedication to fostering meaningful connections within the Spokane community.
Are you ready to sport your own Spokane Velocity FC Community Kit?
Pre-orders are now available for the Velocity FC 2024 inaugural kit in the team store.
