Heineken Becomes the Official Beer of MLS Starting in 2015

Discussion in 'MLS: News & Analysis' started by ImaPuppy, Oct 14, 2014.

  1. ImaPuppy

    ImaPuppy Member+

    Aug 10, 2009
    Using too many parentheses
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    American Samoa
    http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...-heineken-new-official-beer-mls-starting-2015
     
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  2. Knave

    Knave Member+

    May 25, 1999
    One step closer to ...

    [​IMG]

    ;)
     
  3. ImaPuppy

    ImaPuppy Member+

    Aug 10, 2009
    Using too many parentheses
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    American Samoa
    I'm Riot 'til I die (of alcohol poisoning)!
     
  4. EvilTree

    EvilTree Member+

    Canadian S.C
    Canada
    Nov 20, 2007
    Frozen Swampland, Soviet Canuckistan
    Club:
    Toronto FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    does this deal overrule local team deals? I know TFC has a deal (well, MLSE) with Bud, though I don't remember how long the sponsorship is
     
  5. ImaPuppy

    ImaPuppy Member+

    Aug 10, 2009
    Using too many parentheses
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    American Samoa
    #5 ImaPuppy, Oct 14, 2014
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2014
    MLSE's deal with AB-InBev was for stadium pouring rights and was established in 2013, so that won't change, assuming the deal is for more than 1 year. However, for marketing purposes, Heineken will be the name you'll see in media outlets and I imagine they'll also have some sort of operational deal cut out with stadiums/MLS, where they'll be able to get some of their products placed alongside what you already see.

    That being said, don't expect to see Amstel, Fosters and Sagres at your stadium. Well, maybe Amstel, but probably not.

    AB-InBev (Bud) is actually in the middle of a potential hostile takeover of SABMiller after Miller and Heineken failed to merge. There may be implications down the road based on that.

    Anyway, this new deal is for 5 years, $50 million.
     
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  6. Howard the Drake

    Feb 27, 2010
    seems like Heineken is making a bigger US push, this fits with that.

    from the MLS standpoint Heineken might be a better fit with their idealized demo than Bud is. plus it sounds like Heineken is going to be more actively involved.
     
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  7. terrier

    terrier Member

    May 31, 2011
    Netherlands
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    If 'more actively involved' means non-Heineken products (read: local beers) disappearing from stadiums, there will be problems in Portland and Seattle.
     
  8. ImaPuppy

    ImaPuppy Member+

    Aug 10, 2009
    Using too many parentheses
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    American Samoa
    I believe the stadium pouring deals are separate from "official beer" deals like these. You should still see plenty of regional products in your stadiums.
     
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  9. sedlie

    sedlie Member+

    Apr 5, 2011
    5 years

    http://online.wsj.com/articles/heineken-scores-u-s-soccer-deal-1413259267
     
  10. Howard the Drake

    Feb 27, 2010
    I don't see why that would happen. There's an official beer right now, but you can buy non-Bud products at stadiums, Boulevard sponsors the club at Sporting Park, etc. They specifically say that there will be individual club deals but it sounds like that will be market-by-market.

    I was referring to this:

     
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  11. areathrasher

    areathrasher Member

    Mar 26, 2014
    Toronto
    Club:
    Toronto FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ireland Republic
    Look at it like their CL sponsorship. They are the beer sponsor of the tournament but other teams have their own "Official Team Beer" etc
     
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  12. ImaPuppy

    ImaPuppy Member+

    Aug 10, 2009
    Using too many parentheses
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    American Samoa
    With the "visibility" thing, I'm imagining short-intro commercials of ~10 seconds ala UCL advertising that they do, mixed with a couple commercials during breaks.
     
  13. CyphaPSU

    CyphaPSU Member+

    Mar 16, 2003
    Not Far
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Will we suddenly see this guy now during MLS halftime commercials?
    [​IMG]

    Or this guy?

    [​IMG]
     
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  14. USFootiefan1980

    LAFC
    United States
    Aug 19, 2005
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well, that's a step up in my opinion.
     
  15. Macsen

    Macsen Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 5, 2007
    Orlando
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Another effect of the Orlando expansion? :p

    I don't know about other MLS teams, but Heineken has been our official beer since at least 2012.
     
  16. USFootiefan1980

    LAFC
    United States
    Aug 19, 2005
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah, but Adidas has league uniform contracts for few more years still. ;)
     
  17. pupusa3000

    pupusa3000 Member

    May 15, 2001
    East Bay Area
    When did MLS lose the Bud sponsership? I didn't realize they were no longer league sponsor.

    Well I like this deal since Heineken is pretty decent beer.
     
  18. ImaPuppy

    ImaPuppy Member+

    Aug 10, 2009
    Using too many parentheses
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    American Samoa
    The Bud deal ends this year. The Heineken deal takes over from that.
     
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  19. Bolivianfuego

    Bolivianfuego Your favorite Bolivian

    Apr 12, 2004
    Fairfax, Va
    Club:
    Bolivar La Paz
    Nat'l Team:
    Bolivia
    The hispanics in my town are going to go CRAZY!
     
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  20. DynamoEAR

    DynamoEAR Member+

    May 30, 2011
    HoustAtlantaDMV
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Sweet. Now get rid of that no hard liquor/gambling jersey sponsor policy, and now we're talking.:thumbsup:
     
  21. Howard the Drake

    Feb 27, 2010
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  22. deejay

    deejay Member+

    Feb 14, 2000
    Tarpon Springs, FL
    Club:
    Jorge Wilstermann
    Nat'l Team:
    Bolivia
    Impressive from MLS. This shows that there is still a lot of income growth available to MLS during the next 8 years. Remember, there are 26 MLS sponsors.
     
  23. FoxBoro 143

    FoxBoro 143 Member+

    Jan 18, 2004
    MA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This is excellent because I think Heineken is a strong brand to be attached with, especially with our core supporters. Even better because Heineken is, imo, the best mass-produced beer available in every MLS market. Of course every market has it's regional beers which are superior but obviously can't sponsor the whole league. Assuming this does not muscle out those local beers from MLS stadiums, which I think is a safe assumption, this deal definitely makes me happy because I don't mind drinking a Heineken. Bud did not have any products I could tolerate (and i'm not a beer snob, I actually like miller lite) so I don't mind if Heineken muscles out Bud products!
     
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  24. athletics68

    athletics68 Member+

    Dec 12, 2006
    San Diego & San Jose
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's trading one brewer of substandard "beer" for a producer of slightly less substandard "beer". I'll take it as an upgrade.
     
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  25. Gamecock14

    Gamecock14 Member+

    May 27, 2010
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    I remeber back in 07-08 when they came up with their draught keg. I was so pumped, it was a huge disappointent. Damn Champions League Advertising.
     

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