The Columbus Blue Jackets have revealed Columbus-based Safelite as the ‘first jersey sponsor in franchise history’, with the partnership commencing from the 2022-23 season.
In being the first National Hockey League (NHL) team to announce a sponsor of all three jerseys – home, road, and third – the branding will be featured on the game kits for the first time in the 104-year history of the tournament.
Safelite, an auto glass repair, replacement and recalibration provider, has been a partner of the Blue Jackets since 2010, and currently serves as the presenting sponsor of the Columbus Blue Jackets Get Out And Learn programme.
Blue Jackets Chief Operating Officer, Cameron Scholvin, commented: “We are excited to elevate our partnership with Safelite into a historic one as the franchise’s first ever jersey sponsor.
“When we started this process, we set out to partner with a national brand that has strong ties to Columbus and who shares the values we have for serving the community and providing world-class service to our customers. Safelite is just that company.”
The partnership is a three-year deal and is set to place Safelite’s brand mark as a 3.5″ by 1″ patch located on the upper right chest of each jersey. The 2022-23 season will be the first for the NHL to include jersey sponsorships following approval by the League’s Board of Governors, last August.
“Whether on the ice or installing glass, the parallels of providing a memorable experience make this an ideal partnership for Safelite and the Columbus Blue Jackets,” added President and CEO of Safelite, Renee Cacchillo.
“As the team’s first jersey sponsor, our associates and customers from coast to coast will now know of our valued collaboration.”
The news comes shortly after the addition of helmet sponsorships that began during the 2021-22 season. Last October, the Blue Jackets partnered with Columbus-based DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse as the sponsor of the team’s home blue helmet, and Solon, Ohio-based iDesign on the road white helmet.
On the team’s new deal, Scholvin concluded: “We knew we wanted to have a clean and consistent look on our jerseys, but it would have to be the right partner at the right investment.
“We were comfortable with Safelite as the right brand and that we were getting fair market value for both the home and road jerseys, so it made sense to work with just one partner as opposed to multiple partners as we did with our helmets.”
