.png)
Adelaide United has agreed to a Club-record partnership with international sportswear manufacturer, UCAN.
The three-year agreement, which represents the most valuable commercial deal in the Club’s history, will see UCAN become the Club’s Global Technical Partner ahead of the 2020/21 season.
UCAN will manufacture and supply United with an increase in bespoke playing, training, and travel wear for its players, coaching staff, and devoted fan base.
READ MORE:
Founded in 1988, the Guangzhou-based sportswear manufacturer has continued to grow year upon year as they begin to explore the football market outside of China. Adelaide is the first overseas professional football club to be sponsored by UCAN.
UCAN is also the Global Technical Partner of United’s sister club, Qingdao Red Lions, which further strengthens the group’s combined global commercial appeal.
The UCAN partnership further offers improved retail options, whilst maintaining quality in its products and providing the Club with far-improved gear delivery times.
Speaking on the milestone announcement, the Clubs’ Global Commercial Director, Adam Thomson, said: “We are extremely proud to announce this partnership with UCAN.
“As a Club, we spoke to a number of potential technical partners who expressed their interest in representing our brand, but the relationship we have fostered with UCAN over the past year is unparalleled.
“Of course, the commercial aspect to any deal is a large factor for an organisation, however we viewed our decision holistically with quality, flexibility, and delivery time all major considerations when selecting our new technical partner.
“Additionally, our decision to align with UCAN was justified further when our very positive relationship prior to the COVID-19 pandemic continued thereafter.
“There’s no doubt COVID-19 placed question marks across the global football market, however the way we overcame the challenges the pandemic faced us with, will see us all enjoy many successes in the future.
“We’re absolutely delighted to partner with UCAN and are very confident this alignment will benefit Adelaide United greatly now and in the future.”
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6191169881001
UCAN’s Global General Manager, Ally Zhao, explained: “Through our on-going and positive relationship with Qingdao Red Lions, it was an easy decision for us to expand UCAN’s partnership with the Adelaide United and Qingdao group.
“This also creates a fantastic opportunity for UCAN to extend its global reach into the Australian sporting market through the strength of the Adelaide United brand.
“We strongly believe the Club will provide a fantastic platform for UCAN to also extend into the local South Australian semi-professional footballing landscape.
“We are looking forward to the first game at Coopers Stadium and seeing the Reds wear our UCAN kit for the first time and are ecstatic to be partnering with this fantastic football club.”
Adelaide United’s Head of Marketing and Communications, Marius Zanin, added: “This is a significant moment for our football club.
“Not only has our commercial team, headed by Adam (Thomson), produced a record-breaking corporate deal, but the collaboration we, as a Club, have experienced with UCAN’s brand team has been brilliant.
“UCAN’s high quality apparel and design flexibility has enabled us to create completely custom Adelaide United playing kits – all of which have been created in-house by our talented and innovative design team.
“Having this greater input throughout the design process is a testament to the relationship we’ve already established with UCAN.
“We could not be prouder of these fresh and bold designs and know they will resonate with our passionate fans.”
The Club is also thrilled to unveil its new home jersey for the 2020/21 season.
Although the customised shirt remains predominantly red, it also utilises a bold, darker shade of red that features an embossed pattern. Deep blue also appears across the upper body and shoulders, paying further homage to the South Australian state colours with a retro twist.
Additionally, the bottom-seam of the jersey includes an inscription of “More Than Football”, a mantra the Club lives by.
Adelaide United supporters can purchase the new 2020/21 playing shirt now at the Adelaide United Store and online at the Adelaide United Online Store in the first limited-release of jerseys. Every purchase of the jersey will see fans receive $15 off their 2020/21 membership, which will be on sale soon.
