VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC and BMO announced on Thursday an expansion of their multi-year partnership, unveiling BMO as the club’s Official Training Kit Partner from academy to first team. The new training kit will be worn for the first time prior to the team's first preseason match on Friday in Marbella, Spain.
“We are extremely proud to be partnered with BMO, an organization that is committed to grow the game and shares in our vision for sport and community,” said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC CEO. “BMO has been by our side for close to two decades, a founding partner since our first season in MLS, and it is fitting that they will be on the training pitch at every level of our pathway to pro. We are excited to continue to grow soccer in Canada together.”
BMO will continue to support aspiring Canadians on their soccer journey as the Official Bank of Vancouver Whitecaps FC, partnering on the pathway to pro in the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy System across Canada. BMO will now be on training tops from regional academy centres, to Vancouver’s MLS academy, the start of professional soccer with Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2), and onto the Whitecaps FC first team in MLS.
"As The Bank of Soccer, BMO is excited to expand this wonderful partnership with Vancouver Whitecaps FC and further strengthen our commitment to growing the game across North America," added Catherine Roche, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, BMO. "This addition to our longstanding partnership underscores our commitment at all levels, from our support of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy to the first team. We look forward to supporting Vancouver Whitecaps FC and their fans this season and beyond."
The Whitecaps FC BMO Academy System spans from coast to coast, with professionally coached academy programs in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. For more information, visit whitecapsfc.com/academy.
Whitecaps FC will open their 15th MLS campaign alongside BMO on February 23 in Portland, and host MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy in their MLS home opener at BC Place on March 2.
