For the first time since 2006, the Houston Dynamo are without a jersey sponsor.
The club announced Friday that it has come to an agreement to part ways with Greenstar Recycling after the company was purchased by Waste Management. But don't expect those familar orange shirts to be vacant for long. Dynamo president Chris Canetti says the club is actively seeking a new shirt sponsor.
“I think this is a far-reaching opportunity,” Canetti told MLSsoccer.com on Friday. “I think it makes sense to have a company that has roots in Houston and does business in Houston and that could potentially be a big part of the sponsorship.”
While Houston are now one of three teams in MLS without a jersey sponsor, the club knows fully what a sponsorship deal brings. After all, they have had a deal in place with a sponsor for six years straight, dating back to their agreement with Amigo Energy.
As such, the Dynamo are already in talks with "at least five" potential new sponsors, according to Canetti. Those conversations, however, might not bear fruit immediately.
“These deals take a lot of time," Canetti said. "They usually require sign-off at the highest level."
That means the club could well be without a shirt sponsor on March 2 when they host D.C. United in the regular-season opener and perhaps even through the end of the 2013 season. But Canetti stressed the club's history of maintaining a sponsor and extending their brand means they'll find the right fit sooner rather than later.
"We’re hopeful that we can find someone,” he said.
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.
