COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew SC and Acura today announced a major, three-year sponsorship agreement making Acura – the luxury automaker with a substantial manufacturing and R&D presence in Ohio – the Official Columbus Crew SC Jersey Partner and the Official Automotive Partner of Columbus Crew SC.

The sponsorship represents a significant relationship as the largest annual commercial transaction in club history.

All Authentic and replica jerseys, including those worn by the First Team and those sold at retail, will prominently incorporate the iconic Acura logo. The Black & Gold are set to wear Acura-branded jerseys for all competitions, including all Major League Soccer, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and friendly matches, debuting with Crew SC’s first match on March 4 when Columbus hosts the Chicago Fire at MAPFRE Stadium.

With manufacturing operations in Marysville and East Liberty, Ohio, along with R&D facilities in Raymond, Acura’s partnership with Crew SC will support the Central Ohio community with programming and employee engagement benefits for its 10,000+ workforce. Acura’s partnership with Columbus Crew SC will leverage a variety of Crew SC broadcast and digital media assets. The partnership furthers the automaker’s commitment to Ohio with the partnership with Crew SC, marking Acura’s first-ever exclusive partnership in the Columbus area and first global soccer jersey sponsorship for the brand.

“The prestige of the Acura brand and company’s unwavering commitment to Central Ohio are powerful forces we are now honored to proudly stand alongside,” said Crew SC President of Business Operations Andy Loughnane. “Acura and Columbus Crew SC are both committed to positively impacting our community, and this landmark partnership represents the collaborative capabilities of two brands that firmly believe in Ohio.”

“As the home of the development and production of the majority of Acura vehicles, Central Ohio is a very special and important region for the Acura brand and our associates,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president & general manager of Acura. “We look forward to our new partnership with Columbus Crew SC, and to working together to take the soccer experience in Ohio to the next level.”

The 2017 Major League Soccer and Crew SC regular season opens on March 4 against the Chicago Fire at MAPFRE Stadium, presented by MAPFRE Insurance. The full Crew SC preseason and regular schedule can be downloaded and synced on iOS and Android devices.