NEW YORK (May 4, 2015) – Soccer United Marketing and Bayer HealthCare, the makers of Coppertone®, today announced a multi-year, multi-property partnership making Coppertone® the Official Suncare Partner of U.S. Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League.
Throughout this partnership, Coppertone®, U.S. Soccer and NWSL will encourage the importance of using sun protection during every occasion, whether it’s cheering from the stands, playing and sweating on the field, or relaxing by the pool between games. Overexposure to the sun can result in premature skin aging and other skin damage. In fact, up to 90 percent of visible skin changes commonly attributed with premature skin aging are caused by the sun. Outdoor athletes in particular receive more UV exposure than the general public, and, as their skin is more vulnerable to UV rays while sweating, they need a sunscreen they can rely on. With a high performance formula that works just as hard as they do, Coppertone Sport has their back.
"We are very excited to partner with Coppertone, whose leadership in the suncare industry and track record for high performance sunscreens is a natural fit with the NWSL," NWSL Commissioner Jeff Plush said. "We boast some of the hardest working elite athletes in the world and are backed by passionate fans who desire a dedicated brand that can support them every step of the way both on the field and in the stands."
Coppertone® will support the U.S. Women’s National Team as it embarks on its journey to the Women’s World Cup this year. It will also back the U.S. Men’s National Team -- a group that captivated the entire country last summer at the World Cup in Brazil -- in this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup. The brand will have access to U.S. Soccer branding on packaging and displays, while sampling at local team games and leveraging the partnership in both broadcast and digital advertising. Coppertone® will also work closely with U.S. Soccer to have products in the locker room. The sponsorship is inclusive of the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams, as well as the Youth National Teams and the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
In support of the partnership, Coppertone will work with several players to educate fans about the importance of sun protection. As brand ambassadors and role models for athletes across the country, they will spread a message to their fan bases and beyond: sun protection is essential for healthy skin and should be used every day. Since soccer is also one of the most-played sports by children ages 4 to 19 in the United States, supporting the daily use of sunscreen both in and out of the game will encourage sun smart habits.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with U.S. Soccer and NWSL. Coppertone® pioneered the suncare industry with its creation of the sport sunscreen category and its extensive portfolio of products. That’s why working with such an elite group of athletes to spread the sun protection message is a perfect match for us,” said Tracy Nunziata, Vice President, Suncare and Dermatology at Bayer HealthCare. “As the suncare leader, Coppertone is also excited to educate soccer enthusiasts about the importance of sun protection, whether they’re an athlete on the field or a fan watching from the sidelines.”
About Bayer HealthCare
The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subgroup of Bayer AG with annual sales of around EUR 20.0 billion (2014), is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany.
The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Medical Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to discover, develop, manufacture and market products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Bayer HealthCare has a global workforce of 60,700 employees (Dec 31, 2014) and is represented in more than 100 countries. More information is available at www.healthcare.bayer.com.
About Bayer Consumer Care
Bayer HealthCare’s over-the-counter (OTC) drug and nutritional supplements, and OTC and Rx Dermatology units, have business hubs in Whippany, New Jersey, United States: Basel, Switzerland; Shanghai, China; Leverkusen, Germany; and Singapore. Research & Development facilities are located in Morristown, New Jersey and Memphis, Tennessee, United States; Gaillard, France; Darmstadt, Germany and China. Bayer Consumer Care is among the top consumer healthcare companies in the world, with brands in the categories of Allergy; Analgesics; Cardio; Cough, Cold, Sinus & Flu; Foot Health; Gastrointestinals; Nutritionals; Sun Care; and OTC and Rx Dermatology.
Some of the most trusted and recognizable brands in the world today come from the Bayer portfolio of products. These include Advantan™, Afrin®, Aleve®, Alka-Seltzer Plus®, Bayer® Aspirin, Bepanthen™, Berocca™, Canesten™, Claritin®, Coppertone®, Dr. Scholl’s®, Elevit™, Flanax™, Iberogast™, MiraLAX®, Nazol™, One A Day®, Priorin™, Redoxon™, Rennie™, Skinoren™, Supradyn™, Tabcin™, and White & Black™.