News & Events

Franklin Lakes, NJ (April 24, 2000) -- BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX) and Major League Soccer (MLS) have entered into a three-year partnership which makes BD the official supplier of sports medicine care products of MLS and its 12 member teams. The agreement is effective immediately and extends through the 2002 season.

“We are very happy to be part of the MLS family,” said John Tranfaglia, business director of BD Home Health Care Products. “We believe this association gives additional credibility to our brands and products, and are honored that MLS has given us the opportunity to provide our products to their players.”

MLS executive vice president Paul Phipps said: “Major League Soccer is delighted to welcome BD to the MLS commercial family. We look forward to integrating the ACE®, Tru-Fit® and Stardox™ quality products into our training rooms and our players’ daily regimens.”

As an official supplier to MLS, BD is entitled to the various marketing and promotional rights of being a member of the MLS corporate family including use of MLS and team trademarks, tickets and player appearances.

“This program works for us on many levels,” said BD senior marketing manager Nancy Litchfield, architect of the agreement. “First and foremost, our products have been designed to help players get back on the field as quickly as possible after they’re injured. We believe that the MLS trainers have valuable insights into injuries and injury prevention so we can use this relationship as a real world laboratory to help us get better at what we do. For our retail partners, there will be numerous opportunities to benefit from this relationship with ticket giveaways, a major promotional campaign, player appearances and grass roots events. And, this program gives us the opportunity to teach new consumers -- such as young soccer players and their parents -- about the benefits of our products” she added.

Also part of this agreement is the opportunity for BD to present the “MLS Comeback Player of the Year” award and the “MLS Trainer of the Year” award on an annual basis.

Details of the national promotion as well as other grass roots programs are currently being finalized.

BD is a medical technology company that manufactures and sells a broad range of supplies, devices and systems for use by health care professionals, medical research institutions, industry, and the general public.

Celebrating its fifth season this year, Major League Soccer features many top stars from the United States and around the world and is the only Division 1 outdoor professional soccer league in the U.S. The 12 teams that comprise MLS are: the Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, Dallas Burn, D.C. United, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, New York MetroStars, Miami Fusion, New England Revolution, San Jose Earthquakes and the Tampa Bay Mutiny.

Contact: Nancy Litchfield of BD, 201-847-4147; Lisa Walsh-Hewitt of BD, 201-847-6559