Deal marks EA's first North American soccer club partnership
BURNABY, B.C., Canada--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) and Vancouver Whitecaps FC today
announced that EA SPORTS™ has become a Whitecaps FC Founding Partner and
the club's Official Videogame Partner. The deal marks EA's first
partnership with a North American soccer club and places Whitecaps FC
alongside world-class European clubs like Chelsea FC, Arsenal FC, and
Real Madrid CF, all current partners with EA SPORTS.
EA SPORTS Named a Whitecaps FC Founding Partner and Official Videogame Partner (Photo: Business Wire)
Through this relationship, EA SPORTS will showcase its FIFA Soccer
videogame franchise through Whitecaps FC, including signage, broadcast,
and game applications. Similar to its work with European clubs, EA
SPORTS will expand its current relationship with the Whitecaps to
explore new ways to enhance its videogame experience and create greater
authenticity inside of its EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer products. In
addition, EA SPORTS and Whitecaps FC are committed to working together
in the months ahead to create and launch a program for youth development
designed to support the growth of soccer locally and nationally.
The EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer franchise has sold more than 100
million units lifetime* and FIFA Soccer 11 is the best-selling
sports videogame in the world**. Whitecaps FC and BC Place Stadium will
be included in FIFA Soccer 12, enabling fans to play with the
Whitecaps MLS team in their new home before the stadium is actually
complete. In addition, a limited number of FIFA Soccer 12 games
will be available in British Columbia in specially designed Whitecaps FC
branding.
"We're thrilled to join Whitecaps FC as a Founding Partner, as they
enter into their inaugural season in MLS," said EA SPORTS Vice President
and General Manager of Soccer, Matt Bilbey. "EA SPORTS has a long
history of supporting soccer clubs internationally, and with the success
of MLS, it's the perfect time to bring this support to North America at
the club level. British Columbia has been home to the FIFA Soccer
franchise for 18 years, and now more than 1,200 EA employees at our
Burnaby studio, so we pledge our support to work with Whitecaps FC to
develop soccer here in the province and inspire the youth that play this
game."
As Official Videogame Partner of Whitecaps FC, EA SPORTS will have
exclusive access to Whitecaps FC players to motion capture and turn into
the life-like movement of the virtual players in future versions of EA's FIFA
Soccer games. The FIFA development team will also explore new ways
to leverage MLS matches at BC Place to deliver improved authenticity in
its games that match the complexity, finesse, and excitement of a
real-world soccer match. EA SPORTS will also access players, staff, and
its passionate fans to test early versions of its soccer products.
"Through innovative and interactive technology, EA SPORTS will bring
football fans closer to the game than ever before," said Paul Barber,
chief executive officer, Whitecaps FC. "We are very pleased to welcome a
global company with local roots on board — especially one of EA's
caliber — and we look forward to working together to build excitement
for the launch of Major League Soccer in Vancouver."
EA SPORTS is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the
world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive
technology, global videogame competitions and breakthrough digital
experiences. EA SPORTS delivers personal access to the emotion of sports
through industry-leading sports simulation videogames, including Madden
NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NCAA®
Football, Fight Night boxing, EA SPORTS MMA, Tiger
Woods PGA TOUR® golf, and EA SPORTS Active.
* According to EA's internal sales data
** According to NPD
About FIFA Soccer 11
Localized into 18 languages and available in 51 countries, FIFA
Soccer 11 is available for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment
system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, Wii™, PC, Nintendo
DS™, PlayStation®2, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable), iPhone® and iPod®
touch. Visit http://www.facebook.com/easportsfifa
to join the EA SPORTS FIFA Facebook group or visit http://www.ea.com/soccer/
for more information about the game. The game is rated "E" for
Everyone by the ESRB and 3+ by PEGI in Europe.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is
a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in
1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive
software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless
devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under
four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA™, EA Mobile™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2010,
EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.7 billion and had 27 titles that sold
more than one million units. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com.
More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can
be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.
EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile, Pogo and EA SPORTS Active are trademarks of
Electronic Arts Inc. Official FIFA licensed product © The FIFA name and
OLP Logo are copyright or trademark protected by FIFA. All rights
reserved. Manufactured under license by Electronic Arts Inc. Player
names and likenesses used under license from FIFA, International
Federation of Professional Footballers "(FIFPro)" and national teams.
John Madden, NFL, NHL, NBA, NCAA, Tiger Woods and PGA TOUR are
trademarks of their respective owners and used with permission. Microsoft,
Xbox, and Xbox 360 are registered trademarks of the Microsoft group of
companies. "PlayStation" and PSP are registered trademarks of Sony
Computer Entertainment Inc. Wii and Nintendo DS are trademarks of
Nintendo. iPod and the iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc.,
registered in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.
About Vancouver Whitecaps FC
In 1974, Vancouver Whitecaps FC played their inaugural season in the
North American Soccer League, and in 1979, the club won the NASL Soccer
Bowl championship. From 1987 to 1992, as a member of the Canadian Soccer
League, Vancouver won four straight CSL titles. In 2002, Whitecaps FC
created a full club model that encompasses professional teams for men
and women, extensive youth development and grassroots participation
programs, facility development, and the Whitecaps Foundation to support
specific initiatives related to health and wellness through soccer.
Since 2004, Whitecaps FC have won two United Soccer Leagues First
Division championships and two USL W-League championships. In 2011,
Whitecaps FC will begin their inaugural season in Major League Soccer at
Empire Field before moving into the new BC Place Stadium in downtown
Vancouver. For additional information on Vancouver Whitecaps FC, visit
whitecapsfc.com.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6527067&lang=en
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Nathan Vanstone, Manager, Media Relations &
Broadcast, 604-629-2251
nvanstone@whitecapsfc.com
or
EA
SPORTS
Steve Frost, Senior Publicist, 604-456-5067
sfrost@ea.com
Source: Electronic Arts Inc.
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