Merz Aesthetics to sponsor N.C. Courage's jerseys

Merz Aesthetics, a subsidiary of Germany-based Merz Pharma, will become the front-of-jersey sponsor for the NWSL North Carolina Courage beginning this season under an expanded partnership between the club and company. Merz, whose North American HQ are in Raleigh, had its logo on the back of the Courage's uniforms last season and now replaces Continental Tires as the primary sponsor for the home and away kits. Continental is no longer a team partner.

MARKET WATCH: Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but Courage President Francie Gottsegen said the deal with Merz is the most lucrative in the club's history. "We were only going to go with a deal that was a significantly larger investment (than last season)," Gottsegen told SBJ, citing business momentum in women's sports and the NWSL specifically. She added that finding sponsors in the Raleigh area can be a challenge due to the makeup of the local business community. "We don't have many Fortune 500 companies based here," she said. "It's a lot of B2B, there's not a lot of B2C, which is your traditional sponsors. The industries here are a little bit more challenging and less traditional when it comes to sponsorships -- it's tech and it's pharma, and the regulatory environment around that particular industry. So, it's a bit more challenging of a market."

GROWTH OPPORTUNITY: The partnership with the Courage is an isolated foray into sports for Merz, and Merz North America President Patrick Urban characterized the partnership as an opportunity for the company to make an impact in the Raleigh community and support women's sports. "It's important to do things that reflect who your employees are," Urban said. "We're about 73% female employees in our organization. So, supporting female sports, especially here locally, is just the right entry for us into anything in the sports world." In addition to the jersey branding, Merz will sponsor the construction of a new mini soccer field in the region for public use. The Courage and Merz negotiated the deal directly with one another.

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SBJ I Factor presented by Allied Sports features an interview with Danita Johnson, president of business operations for D.C. United and a member of Sports Business Journal's Forty Under 40 class of 2023. Johnson talks with SBJ's Abe Madkour about learning how to sell and to not fear change, becoming an effective manager, the importance of empathy as a leadership trait, and what to look for when evaluating job candidates. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine's awards, such as Forty Under 40, Game Changers and others.

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