Panasonic Announces Multi-Year Sponsorships of U.S. Soccer and Major League Soccer

HARRISON, N.J., Oct. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic, a global leader in high definition and Full HD 3D technologies, U.S. Soccer, and Major League Soccer (MLS) announced today a multi-faceted, three-year sponsorship agreement which will make Panasonic the "Official Consumer Electronics Partner" of U.S. Soccer as well the "Official/Proud Sponsor" of the U.S. Men's and Women's National Teams and renews these same designations with Major League Soccer.  Panasonic has been involved in the sport of soccer in the US for almost 10 years.

Tomorrow, the U.S. Men's National Team will play Ecuador at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ.  Red Bull Arena is one of a number of MLS facilities that have chosen Panasonic as a technology partner whose products including  digital scoreboard displays, LED main video displays, field level and fascia LED signage, security systems and VIERA plasma HDTVs are used throughout the facility. Other MLS facilities featuring Panasonic products include PPL Park, home of the Philadelphia Union, in Chester, Pa, and Livestrong Sporting Park, home of Sporting Kansas City, in Kansas City, Kan.

The relationships with U.S. Soccer and MLS will extend through the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the end of the 2014 MLS season.  The sponsorship will give Panasonic category exclusivity across the U.S. Soccer and MLS properties for a wide range of consumer, professional, and B2B products including HDTV (VIERA), Blu-ray Disc, cameras and camcorders (LUMIX), LED signage, TV broadcast equipment, and point of sale systems (excluding payment services systems), solar and eco systems (MLS only), mobile & tablet computers, and select personal care products.

"Panasonic is proud to extend our sponsorship of Major League Soccer and to expand our horizons to support the U.S. Soccer Federation and the Men's and Women's National Teams," said Joe Taylor, Panasonic Corporation of North America's Chairman & CEO.  "Soccer is a brand on the rise in the US with a broad, global appeal and a target audience aligned with our own brand goals.  This relationship is a perfect match with Panasonic's wide range of critically-acclaimed consumer and professional products. We already have many technology partnerships in MLS and we hope to expand on that with our end-to-end solutions from video production and professional digital stadium displays to stunning Full HD 3D VIERA TVs and LUMIX cameras to take the great game of soccer to a new level of enjoyment for fans both at home and in the arenas."

"Panasonic has been a strategic partner of MLS for close to a decade," said Kathy Carter, President of Soccer United Marketing, MLS' marketing arm. "They have been at the forefront of development during the opening of new soccer-specific stadiums, many of which feature great Panasonic technology. Red Bull Arena, the site of tomorrow's game between the United States and Ecuador, is a great showcase facility for Panasonic and illustrates how they have helped our League grow over the years.  It is great to see them expand their relationship with the sport by supporting U.S. Soccer and we look forward to building upon our partnership for years to come."

About Panasonic Corporation of North America

Currently based in Secaucus, NJ, Panasonic Corporation of North America provides a broad line of digital and other electronics products for consumer, business and industrial use.  The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC), and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations.  Panasonic is pledged to practice prudent, sustainable use of the earth's natural resources and protect our environment through the company's Eco Ideas programs. Panasonic was the only Consumer Electronics company to be listed in the top ten brands on the Interbrand Best Global Green Brands 2011 ranking (Interbrand Best Global Green Brands 2011).  Information about Panasonic Eco Ideas initiatives is available at http://panasonic.net/eco/ecoideas/. Information about Panasonic and its products is available at www.panasonic.com and its Full HD 3D site at www.panasonic.com/3D.   Additional company information for journalists is also available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

About U.S. Soccer

Founded in 1913, U.S. Soccer has helped chart the course for soccer in the USA for more than 95 years as the governing body of the sport. In this time, the Federation's mission statement has been clear and simple: to make soccer, in all its forms, a pre-eminent sport in the United States and to continue the development of soccer at all recreational and competitive levels. To that end, the sport's growth in the past two decades has been nothing short of remarkable as U.S. Soccer's National Teams have continually succeeded on the world stage while also growing the game here in the United States with the support of its members. For more information, visit ussoccer.com.

About Major League Soccer

Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. MLS features many stars from the U.S., Canada, and around the world. Major League Soccer's 16th season will feature 18 clubs each playing 34 regular season matches. Those clubs include Chicago Fire; Chivas USA; 2010 MLS Cup champion Colorado Rapids; Columbus Crew; D.C. United; FC Dallas; Houston Dynamo; LA Galaxy; New York Red Bulls; New England Revolution; Philadelphia Union; Real Salt Lake; San Jose Earthquakes; Seattle Sounders FC; Sporting Kansas City; Toronto FC; and, in their inaugural seasons, Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. An expansion team in Montreal will debut in 2012. For more information about MLS, log on to the League's official website at www.MLSsoccer.com.

SOURCE Panasonic