WPS: Western New York Flash and Owner Top the News in Women's Pro Soccer

BALTIMORE, MD and BUFFALO, NY (January 14, 2011)—Women’s Professional Soccer and Sahlen Packing Company, Inc. of Buffalo, NY, today announced a partnership that makes Sahlen’s the "Official Hot Dog of Women’s Professional Soccer."

Joe Sahlen, third-generation owner and CEO of the family meatpacking business is also owner of WPS's newest club, Western New York Flash. The announcement, released on the day his club will have a clear advantage in the league's college draft, put Sahlen, his company and his Flash in dual roles on center stage in Women's Professional Soccer.

Shalen has already created a unique and ingenious business model by which his team's business operations will be run through the meat company's front office, requiring only additional salaries for competitive aspects of team operations, while also using the team as part of his overall marketing strategy, has added further value to the Sahlen brand by becoming a sponsor of the league.

The deal, which includes a “Sahlen’s” logo patch on all WPS team uniforms throughout the 2011 season, was announced by WPS CEO Anne-Marie Eileraas prior to the 2011 WPS Draft at the NSCAA Convention in Baltimore, Maryland.

“We are pleased to add a premier brand like Sahlen’s to our sponsorship roster in the third year of play," said Eileraas. “With the addition of Sahlen’s as another national sponsor, we are ahead of our plans to bring on new sponsors for the 2011 season—well in advance of pre-season.” As part of the deal, Sahlen’s will also receive placement on the WPS website.

“We are so proud to partner with Women’s Professional Soccer as the league’s official hot dog,” said Joe Sahlen. “The league reaches the targeted family demographic for our products and brand that makes it an attractive property.” The Sahlen brand is known for deli meats and hot dogs and is carried in all WPS markets. Sahlen is the owner of the Western New York Flash, a WPS expansion team in 2011.

Other national sponsors of Women’s Professional Soccer include PUMA, Citi, Playtex, the U.S. Coast Guard—sponsor of the past two WPS All-Star Games—and MedImmune.

The 2011 WPS Season will kick off with its first game on Saturday, April 9th as the Atlanta Beat host the Boston Breakers at KSU Soccer Stadium in Kennesaw, GA. The full 2011 WPS Season schedule will be announced in February. The league’s six clubs will contest 18 regular season games from April through August, which will be followed by a four-team playoff and the 2011 WPS Championship presented by Citi on August 27-28.

As for the draft, the Flash has the first and last picks in the first round, certain to select the consensus best overall player available, Alex Morgan, U.S. Women's National Team and University of California star. Who Western New York will choose in their second first-round pick or in subsequent rounds is hard to predict. The team has made some very creative and impressive player signings already and will enter their inaugural season as a leading contender despite being an expansion team.   

About Women’s Professional Soccer

Women’s Professional Soccer is the world’s best soccer league for women, featuring stars from the U.S. National team and around the globe. In 2011, WPS will feature a six-team league playing 18 games each from April through August for the chance to qualify for the WPS Playoffs. The top team in the regular season will earn the right to host the WPS Championship presented by Citi as the top seed on August 27-28. The six teams include Atlanta Beat, Boston Breakers, Philadelphia Independence, Sky Blue FC (New Jersey), magicTalk SC/Washington Freedom and Western New York Flash.
 

About Sahlen Packing Company

From their website: "Sahlen Packing Company, Inc. was founded in 1869 in Buffalo, New York as a family business. Company founder Joseph Sahlen dedicated himself to one guiding principle: only the freshest and highest quality meat products would bear the proud Sahlen name. Today—in addition to being the name behind the Buffalo area’s favorite hot dogs and holiday hams—Sahlen’s has grown from its Western New York roots to offer our deli meats like "Old Fashioned" Smokehouse Ham and Turkey Breast in over 15 states."