MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact and BMO Financial Group, the club’s presenting partner, unveiled the new team jersey in preparation for the club’s inaugural season in Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2012, as part of a fashion show at the Montreal Science Centre, on Thursday. The two organizations took advantage of the momentous occasion to also unveil the equipment and training gear.
“This is a historic moment for the Montreal Impact. The new team jersey represents not only the identity of the club, but also the city of Montreal and the entire province of Quebec,” said Montreal Impact president Joey Saputo. “We are proud to have partnered with BMO Financial Group, Canada’s soccer bank. We are very pleased to have shared this unique experience with our supporters and our partners.”
“This is an exciting day for all soccer fans with the unveiling of the superb Impact jersey that highlights the team’s roots and association with Montreal and Quebec,” said L. Jacques Ménard, President, BMO Financial Group, Quebec. “As the Impact defines its identity following last week’s MLS draft and subsequent player moves, and today’s jersey announcement, BMO is proud to partner with an organization that will have an immediate impact in promoting soccer in our community and representing Montreal throughout North America as the team begins its first season in MLS in March 2012.”
Throughout the evening, Impact players – goalkeepers Donovan Ricketts and Evan Bush, defenders Nelson Rivas and Zarek Valentin, midfielders Davy Arnaud, Josh Gardner and Sinisa Ubiparipovic, as well as striker Justin Braun – along with Quebec celebrities and club supporters, showed off the team’s new colours in front of 500 invited guests.
Produced by adidas, the official supplier of MLS, the first team jersey is blue, the traditional colour of the club, and the second jersey is white.
Aside from the BMO Financial Group logo across the chest, the new design will contain many new elements, including an embossed cross made up of many small little fleur-de-lys across the front, a strip with the colours of the Quebec flag around the collar, two silver stripes descending the length of the jersey representing the rivers around the island of Montreal and the club’s new motto, “Tous pour gagner” near the collar on the back of the jersey.
Some of the other unique elements include the three striped logo of adidas as well as the MLS logo on the right sleeve and the Canadian flag on the left.
In total, more than 20 pieces were unveiled during the event, including the training gear and outerwear.
Montreal Impact supporters can procure the new team jersey starting tomorrow, December 2, at the Impact boutique, situated in downtown Montreal (1100 University, office 104), online at www.boutiqueimpactmontreal.com, as well as in 90 major stores across Quebec. The other Impact gear will be made available in February.
BMO: the Bank of Soccer in Canada
BMO supports soccer across Canada from youth players in local neighbourhoods and communities to the professional level. Our deep commitment to "The Beautiful Game" is evident from the beginning of the curve with our grassroots sponsorship of more than 900 youth teams nationally. BMO also introduced earlier this year BMO Team of the Week, a contest to reward youth teams across the country with a grand prize that includes $125,000 to refurbish their local soccer field. The relationship continues with our support of the Canadian Soccer Association through to our support of Canada’s three professional teams in MLS. BMO's partnership with the Toronto FC includes its jersey sponsorship and naming rights to the venue (BMO Field). In the fall of 2010, BMO was named the first founding partner of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and is the presenting partner of the Montreal Impact as the team enters MLS in 2012.
About the Montreal Impact
The Montreal Impact is Montreal’s professional soccer club. The team made its debut in 1993. It has won three division championships (1994, 2004 and 2009), five regular season championships (1995, 1996, 1997, 2005 and 2006) and a Nutrilite Canadian Championship (2008). It also took part in the CONCACAF Champions League quarter-final on February 25, 2009, before 55,571 spectators at the Olympic Stadium. The Impact joins Major League Soccer (MLS), North America’s most prestigious league, in 2012. Saputo Stadium, the Impact’s home since 2008, will be expanded to 20,341 seats for the club’s inaugural season in MLS. The team will play its first home game on March 17, at Olympic Stadium.
