Gannett’s Imagn to Serve as New Worldwide Official Photography Partner for MLS and the MLS Players Association

Imagn, a leading photo wire service and a business unit of Gannett Co., Inc., today announced a multi-year partnership extension to serve as the worldwide official photography partner of Major League Soccer (MLS) and Soccer United Marketing (SUM), the preeminent commercial soccer enterprise in North America overseeing commercialization, marketing, promotion, and operational execution of the region’s most successful soccer entities. Additionally, Imagn announced a new, long-term partnership with the Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA) and its group licensing partner, OneTeam Partners, to serve in the same role with the players’ union.

With content sourced directly from the USA TODAY NETWORK, plus the nation’s largest sports-image wire service, Imagn offers award-winning sports, entertainment, political, and breaking news photography. A dedicated network of more than 300 contributors and staff photographers from more than 250 local news brands and USA TODAY generates nearly 2 million images per year of the most compelling sports moments, local and national news, key political happenings, and the red-carpet-worthy shots in the entertainment industry.

“Soccer is the fastest growing sport in North America, and we’re excited to work with the MLS and MLSPA to capture these great athletes in action,” said Bruce Odle, President of Imagn.  “We continue to innovate and to invest in our people and platform to support our photojournalists and our business partners, and we look forward to serving and growing the brands of the league, teams, and players, as well as our global media customers.”

As part of the agreement with the MLSPA, Imagn will help support sponsors and licensees interested in the use of MLS player images in consumer and commercial products and promotional campaigns.

“The impact of visual content in connecting fans and partners with the diverse personalities of MLS players is significant,” said Dan Jones, Chief Operating Officer of the MLSPA. “We are excited to welcome Imagn as the Official Photography Partner of the MLSPA and are excited to work with them and our partners at OneTeam to further develop commercial opportunities in the marketplace.”

Imagn kicked off its 2021 soccer coverage in April with MLS’ 26th season. Covering hundreds of matches for the league annually, including the League’s marquee events such as All-Star and MLS Cup, Imagn is dedicated to delivering best-in-class photos for the league.

“Imagn is committed to capturing the intensity, passion and drama of Major League Soccer and its young, diverse, and inclusive fan base,” said Emily Unruh, MLS VP of Consumer Products. “We look forward to working with Imagn to share soccer’s special moments with the world for many years to come.”

As part of the extension with SUM, Imagn will also continue to serve in a similar capacity for the SUM’s U.S. tour with the Mexican National Team (MNT), including the upcoming 2021 edition of the Mex Tour. The Mex Tour begins in Arlington, Texas on May 29th when the Mexican National Team takes on Ireland.

To find MLS, SUM and MLSPA photos, visit www.Imagn.com.

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