• The Big Lead, Monday, June 6, 2011 10:45 AM

Global shipping company DHL is backing soccer giant Manchester United for its friendly tour of the U.S. next month. DHL has secured rights that include player and club legend appearances, tickets, hospitality, branding and advertising opportunities. DHL will also "deliver" the team to each game in a DHL-branded bus. The tour includes three games against Major League Soccer clubs, and matches against the MLS All-Star Team and soccer powerhouse Barcelona.

Manchester United has a 13-year, $470 million deal with Nike; a four-year $132 million jersey-front sponsorship deal with Aon; and deals with other global sponsors including DHL, Audi, Kumho Tires, Epson and Turkish Airlines.

The tour will include matches in Boston, Chicago and Seattle; at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., for the AT&T MLS All-Star Game, which will air nationally on ESPN2; and at FedEx Field in Washington, D.C., where the tour will conclude against Barcelona. That match is expected to attract 91,000.

Read the whole story at The Big Lead »