View from the Blues, Volume Six: More Sponsorships for Charlie's Boys

While the Los Angeles Galaxy opened up their 2011 Major League Soccer season in grand fashion against the Seattle Sounders, across town the Los Angeles Blues of USL PRO were continuing their countdown to their season opener at Sevilla FC on April 15 by bringing in a couple new corporate partners aboard.

Over the past month, the club announced that they have partnered with Compete Sports Performance and Rehab for all medical treatment and fitness programs throughout the season.

Owner of Compete Sports Performance and Rehab, Chris Phillips ATC, CSCS along with Sheldon Sonnenberg PT, ATC, CSCS will be in charge of athletic training as well as implementing the physical fitness programs for the LA Blues.

Phillips has 20 years of experience in professional sports, including positions with the National Hockey League and Women’s Professional Soccer.

Joining those two will be Dr. Steve Mora, the club's new team orthopedist.

Mora completed his Orthopedic Surgery training from USC Medical Center and has received many awards for his achievements in the medical field, including the Physician of Excellence Award from the Orange County Medical Association in 2007. Mora is an Orange County native and bases his practice locally at La Veta Orthopedic Associates.

"I am excited to begin a working relationship with Dr. Steve Mora,” Phillips said. “His past history working with the Santa Monica Orthopedic Group and his love for the game of soccer will be beneficial to our players’ health and well being."

Also over the course of the past month, Wardour And Oxford were named as the Blues' Global Business Development Agency. They will be responsible for managing the club's national and global commercial, sponsorship and marketing efforts.

“LA Blues Soccer Club is looking forward to expanding our network and strengthening our brand through this strategic alliance with Wardour And Oxford," Blues general manager Alyse LaHue said. "[Wardour And Oxford CEO] Wempy [Dyocta Koto] and his team are committed to working closely with the Blues organization on the creation of local, and even international, opportunities via their global experience and expertise.”

“We are proud to be appointed by the Los Angeles Blues as their global business development agency," Koto said. "Soccer has emerged to be one of America’s fastest-rising sports with a national audience of 24.3 million viewers watching the 2010 FIFA World Cup final from the ABC and Spanish telecasts on Univision. This outstrips viewership of institutional American sports events such as baseball’s 2010 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers.

“Whether watching the games live at Fullerton, streamed live on the internet or live on television’s Fox Soccer Channel, the LA Blues will be the team to watch in this year’s USL PRO league. With Charlie Naimo’s successful coaching track record and the team boasting some of the sport’s hottest talents, expectations are rising for an eventful season.

"Wardour And Oxford will be working closely with LA Blues leadership to identify and sign new local, national and international sponsors and strategic partners. With the team’s new sponsors including Nike and Marriott Fullerton, Wardour And Oxford is on an ambitious path to acquire more brands who share the LA Blues’ ambitions, aspirations, vision and acumen to be on the crest of what will be an enormous wave of strategic commercial opportunities."

The Blues' home opener is scheduled for May 1 against Antigua Barracuda FC at Titan Stadium in Fullerton, California.