WESTFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sportlifestyle brand PUMA® and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort have teamed up in a multi-year agreement that will showcase PUMA soccer and elite soccer players, giving the legions of soccer athletes who compete at the complex early exposure to PUMA’s latest soccer products.
As part of this collaboration, PUMA will become the official soccer equipment sponsor of Disney Soccer, which hosts tournaments for tens of thousands of players from around the globe each year. The agreement also includes a co-branded soccer ball created by PUMA that will be used for all youth tournaments, matches and events at the ESPN World Wide of Sports Complex. In addition, PUMA will also help promote Disney Soccer and have a major presence at select soccer events and tournaments including a PUMA retail area offering soccer apparel, footwear and accessories.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with Disney Sports on this exciting venture,” said Jay Piccola, President of PUMA North America. “We are looking forward to teaming up with one of the country’s leading organizations for world class youth soccer programming and bringing this combination to young soccer players and fans alike.”
The widely acclaimed ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is the leading multi-sport venue for amateur and professional sports, providing one-of-a-kind memorable experiences for athletes, coaches and their families. Having hosted more than 8,000 soccer teams, 100,000 athletes and some 200,000 spectators, coaches and enthusiasts over the past five years, Disney Soccer has expanded, becoming the most popular sport at the complex. Disney youth soccer tournaments include elite events such as Disney Soccer Showcase and Disney Cup International and other events, such as Disney Soccer Academy, that are open to all ranges of athletes.
"We're excited to work with PUMA, which is known for its innovative approach and commitment to athletes who have a passion for soccer,” said Tom Wolber, senior vice president of Disney Sports Enterprises. “The addition of PUMA’s soccer equipment will complement the Disney Soccer experience for the athletes who play on our fields.”
As the official soccer equipment sponsor for the facility, PUMA will also host special events at the complex, including PUMA soccer equipment launches and retailer events with appearances from special guests and athletes that will bring their unique take on sport and lifestyle.
For PUMA’s first official event at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, PUMA brought the Women’s Elite Showcase to the Disney Cup International event this week. PUMA’s Women’s Elite Showcase brings the nation’s top high-school aged female players and their coaches together for a unique opportunity to play in front of the soccer community and many college scouts. This program is in its third year and for the first time is being played at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
To learn more about PUMA’s soccer category go to: www.puma.com/football. You can also get brand updates at facebook.com/PUMAfootball or follow the brand via Twitter @PUMAfootball, Instagram @PUMAsport and Vine @PUMA. To learn more about Walt Disney Word Resorts visit www.waltdisneyworld.com/about.
PUMA
PUMA is one of the world’s leading Sportlifestyle companies that designs and develops footwear, apparel and accessories. It is committed to working in ways that contribute to the world by supporting Creativity, SAFE Sustainability and Peace, and by staying true to the principles of being Fair, Honest, Positive and Creative in decisions made and actions taken. PUMA starts in Sport and ends in Fashion. Its Sport Performance and Lifestyle labels include categories such as Football, Running, Motorsports, Golf and Sailing. Sport Fashion features collaborations with renowned designer labels such as Alexander McQueen, Mihara Yasuhiro and Sergio Rossi. The PUMA Group owns the brands PUMA, Cobra Golf and Tretorn. The company, which was founded in 1948, distributes its products in more than 120 countries, employs more than 9,000 people worldwide and has headquarters in Herzogenaurach/Germany, Boston, London and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit http://www.puma.com.
About ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
ESPN Wide World of
Sports Complex, which hosts more than 350 events a year, is the leading
multi-sport venue for amateur and professional sports in the nation,
accommodating 70 different sports and athletes from more than 70
countries. Designed to take youth sports to the next level, the 255-acre
facility features multiple competition venues, including Champion
Stadium, the HP Field House, the Jostens Center, the Hess Sports Fields,
a track & field facility, a tennis complex and a baseball/softball
sportsplex. It is also home to the ESPN Innovation Lab, a real-world
testing ground for the ESPN Emerging Technology Group that develops
ground-breaking on-air products like Ball Track and ESPN Snap Zoom, as
well as development of its new 3-D television channel. In addition, the
complex features 56 high-definition cameras and 40 high-definition video
screens, including three jumbo screens, which can capture and display
footage from any event taking place at the complex. The camera and video
screens, as well as a 20-zone audio system, are controlled through the
state-of-the-art HD and 3-D Production Center with direct links to ESPN
facilities in Bristol, Conn., New York and Los Angeles. For more
information, visit www.disneysportsnews.com
for press releases, photos and videos. Follow us on Twitter at
@DisneySports and on Facebook.
