Nationwide will be the official Columbus Crew SC jersey partner beginning in 2021, part of a future multi-year sponsorship of the club.
In 2020, the Crew will partner with Nationwide Children’s Hospital and feature a special Nationwide Children’s jersey for all competitions, including all Major League Soccer and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches. The Nationwide Children’s Hospital jersey will debut at Crew SC’s Opening Match this Sunday, March 1 when the Black & Gold host New York City FC. For one year, all authentic and replica jerseys, including those worn by the First Team and those sold at retail, will prominently incorporate the Nationwide Children’s Hospital logo.
Beginning in 2021, Crew SC kits will feature the Nationwide logo and Nationwide Children’s Hospital will transition into a community partner role with details to be announced later this year.
“We are thrilled to announce this partnership with Nationwide and take great pride in the unique opportunity to highlight Nationwide Children’s Hospital on our jerseys in 2020,” said Crew SC Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer Steve Lyons. “We know that Nationwide Children’s Hospital is a tremendous resource in our community and is synonymous with so much that is good in Columbus, especially their work to address pediatric behavioral health. We look forward to the special 2020 kits and are excited that our Crew jerseys will then feature the iconic Nationwide logo in 2021 and beyond. Today marks an exciting moment for Crew SC, celebrating the partnership with Nationwide and Nationwide Children’s Hospital as we enter a new era for this Club.”
“Nationwide is excited that the 2020 jersey sponsorship will go to our longtime community and philanthropic partners at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and then Nationwide will become the official jersey and insurance partner of Columbus Crew SC in 2021,” said Kirt Walker, Nationwide’s chief executive officer. “This brings together three hometown teams to engage the Crew’s incredible fan base and highlight the important, inspiring work being done by the hospital.”
As America’s second-largest children’s hospital, Nationwide Children’s cares for children from all 50 states and 45 countries and sees more than 1.5 million patient visits annually.
“On behalf of the staff, patients and families at Nationwide Children’s Hospital we are so honored to join this partnership with Nationwide and the Crew,” said Tim Robinson, CEO of Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “Nationwide has been an extraordinary supporter of the hospital for decades and this is yet another tangible example of their generosity. We look forward to cheering the Crew to victory this season and to this on-going relationship.”
The Crew’s kit portfolio for this year includes the New Heritage Kit as the secondary kit and the 2019 Gold Kit, which was unveiled ahead of the 2019 campaign, as the Club’s primary kit. The New Heritage kit features a black jersey with grey checkerboard print on the front, as well as three gold stripes over the right shoulder. On the upper back behind the neck, there is a ‘State of Ohio’ transfer with a star at the location of Columbus. The New Heritage Kit also features the “Founding Club” mark of nine stars in silver, which is found only on the authentic shirts of the original nine Major League Soccer Charter Member clubs, of which Crew SC is Charter Member number one.
Image courtesy Columbus Crew SC.