VANCOUVER – Bell has signed on as the premier founding partner and exclusive mobile video provider of the country’s newest soccer team, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
The partnership will see Bell’s logo featured on all jerseys and training kits throughout the club, including Whitecaps FC’s W-League side, full-time residency program and prospects teams. Through an exclusive agreement with Whitecaps FC and Major League Soccer, Bell mobile clients will be able to view unique Whitecaps FC content on their mobile smart phones including live matches, behind-the-scenes access to players and coaches and other Whitecaps-specific mobile applications beginning in 2011. Bell will also provide $100,000 per year to the Whitecaps Foundation to support youth initiatives across the province that will get kids moving and stress the importance of healthy, active living.
“Coming out of the 2010 Winter Games with awesome momentum in Vancouver it was natural to partner with Whitecaps FC, a team with the capacity to excite the community from a local, Canadian and international perspective," said Wade Oosterman, president of Bell Mobility and chief brand officer for Bell, in a statement. "MLS soccer is a great fan experience and we look forward to engaging the huge base of fans in British Columbia with world-class Whitecaps FC soccer and unique mobile content only Bell can deliver."
In addition to the partnership commitment, Bell and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC ownership group will establish a sport innovation council that will identify, validate, integrate and test the latest mobile technological advancements by using Whitecaps FC as an "incubator" for innovative concepts that can be developed, marketed and exported.
The Whitecaps will begin play in MLS in March 2011 at Empire Field before moving into the new BC Place Stadium in downtown Vancouver.
