Chivas Gets a Shirt Sponsor

• MLSNet, Friday, May 18, 2007 4:45 PM

Chivas USA on Thursday became the fifth MLS team to have a company name adorning the front of its jersey. For an undisclosed fee, Mexican paint manufacturer Comex purchased the right to have its logo splashed across the front of the club's red and white striped jersey. Real Salt Lake (Xango), Toronto FC (BMO), the New York Red Bulls (Red Bull) and the Los Angeles Galaxy (Herbalife) are the others. Comex is one of North America's largest paint distributors; its brands include California-based Frazee Paint, which will be Chivas USA's first presenting sponsor.

This Sunday the club will unveil the new jersey against the L.A. Galaxy at the Home Depot Center, the second local derby match of the year for the two clubs; the Galaxy won the first, 3-1, last month. Chivas will play the first 45 minutes in the old jersey and then return in the second half with the new shirt.

Chivas striker Ante Razov and Mexico legend Claudio Suarez modeled off the new look at the press conference. Antonio Cue, the club's president and co-owner, called it "perfect, clean and worthy of a great company. I'm very proud to see a Mexican name on this jersey," he said, referring to the team's Mexican roots. "The only thing that's missing is the star," he added, a reference to Chivas Guadalajara's custom of adding a star above the team's logo for each of its league championships.

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