Columbus Crew has announced Spanish insurer Mapfre as the first-ever naming rights sponsor of its home stadium, reports, www.sportspromedia.com/. The venue, the first soccer-specific venue in MLS, will be renamed Mapfre Stadium under the terms of a 'multi-year' deal announced at a ceremony on Tuesday.
Though financial terms of the deal have not been released, Crew investor-operator and chairman Anthony Precourt described it as "the largest commercial partnership signed in the franchise's history".
Based on comparable stadium naming rights deals in MLS, the agreement is likely to be worth a low seven-figure sum annually.
Stadium naming rights in Houston and San Jose have both recently been sold for US$20 million over ten years.
As well as stadium naming rights, Mapfre's investment in Columbus also includes community elements and designates the company as the Crew's official auto, life and home insurance partner.
Their first home game of the season will see Toronto FC travel to Mapfre Stadium on 14th March.
