Aon and Nike Launch New Manchester United Kits
By Ben Schuman Stoler in Arts & Entertainment on Jul 15, 2010 6:00PM
When Manchester United, with new sponsor Aon and longtime sponsor Nike, released their 2010-2011 jerseys at Niketown downtown last night, the world’s most prolific, successful, and wealthy sports franchise laid some serious roots in Chicago. All the speakers, from United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to Aon President and CEO Greg Case to every Nike rep available, maintain that the partnership is based on more than the $125 million Aon is purported to have paid to have their name on the front of the best selling jersey in the world for four years. Case said that Nike, Aon, and Manchester United all share the characteristic of winning; the sponsorship is meant to “magnify” and “spread” their brands, passion, and excellence.
Ferguson, one of the most successful and influential coaches in the history of British soccer, said he was particularly excited about the jerseys incorporating Manchester’s history (the Red Devil is visible as detail) and Welsh star Ryan Giggs added to the mystique, saying, "It's always special when you put on the Manchester shirt."
Aon, which recently bought out Hewitt Associates for $4.9 billion, is only the fourth company to feature on the front of the Manchester United shirt, and Case is hoping that their spell as sponsor will go more smoothly than that of their predecessor AIG. Along with the Glazer family takeover of United, AIG created more controversy than goodwill at the club. The most frustrated fans have since created an entirely new team, F.C. United, and have tried to collectively re-buy the club - leading to rumors of financial and boardroom instability.
Alas, Wednesday night was all about the game. The players - those that didn't go to the World Cup, that is - are in town to train for the American tour that will have them face off against the MLS All Stars and Celtic, among others. Asked about their time in Chicago, all the players complimented the city and its training facilities and Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov scoffed at the heat. He said he finds the heat beneficial in the sense that it provides the best climate to build fitness for the new season. Defender Wes Brown was called out for spending all his time here shopping. When pushed to reveal what he bought, he only chuckled, saying, “Definitely not.”
The jerseys, like Nike’s world cup jerseys, are built from eight recycled plastic water bottles. It is the combination of that sustainability with the most advanced moisture management system Nike has ever had that will assure millions and millions of fans will buy these jerseys - which is exactly why Aon is so excited to be a part. As Niketown buzzed with anticipation to see the players, it was hard not to feel that Chicago was at the center of the soccer universe. Perhaps, with Aon so prominently placed, we’ll get that feeling a bit more often in the coming years.