CHICAGO (May 30, 2017) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Tuesday a partnership naming Krakus®, a true imported Polish Ham, as the Official Deli Meat partner for the 2017 season.
“The Chicago Fire Soccer Club is very pleased to welcome Krakus Polish Ham as a partner,” said Atul Khosla, Chicago Fire Chief Operating Officer. “We know our loyal fans will be excited to see one of their favorite brands like Krakus supporting the Chicago Fire, and engaged with the broader soccer community here in Chicago.”
In the club’s 20th MLS season, the new partnership between Krakus and the Fire represents Krakus’ first professional sports sponsorship in the United States. At select Fire matches throughout the season, fans will be able to sample the mouthwatering taste of a true imported Polish Ham, pick-up exclusive Krakus giveaway items, and celebrate a shared passion for the game of soccer.
“Krakus has a rich history in Chicago, much like the Chicago Fire Soccer Club,” said Michael Baughman, Smithfield Foods director of marketing. “We are honored to team up with the Fire, and we’re looking forward to bringing Chicago’s soccer families and Fire fans one-of-a-kind flavors they’ll enjoy and remember.”
In addition to match day sampling, coupons, giveaways, and stadium signage, Krakus will serve as presenting sponsor of the Krakus Polish Ham Man of the Match, an award bestowed by Fire supporters after each match to the Fire player who had the most positive impact. Each match day, fans can cast their vote for the Krakus Man of the Match through the Official Chicago Fire Mobile App. All season long, the Krakus Man of the Match will be featured on the Fire’s CSN Chicago television broadcasts, Fire social media channels, and Chicago-Fire.com/ManoftheMatch.
For all Man of the Match performances this season, Krakus will make a donation on behalf of the player to the Chicago Fire’s P.L.A.Y.S. (Participate, Learn, Achieve, Youth Soccer) Program, which is committed to enhancing the academic performance and development of key social and emotional (SEL) skills of elementary school students through a sports based curriculum.
Krakus will be featured across various Fire-sponsored Community Youth Soccer events, and at The PrivateBank Fire Pitch soccer complex on Chicago’s North Side, which hosts more than 250,000 adult and youth soccer players and visitors annually. A Krakus consumer sweepstakes will also be announced later this season, providing fans the chance to win family four-packs of tickets to Chicago Fire home matches.
For more information on Krakus, please visit KrakusFoods.com. Krakus is a brand of Smithfield Foods.
