Amateur Sponsorship: Give Your Partner Clubs the Resources of the Pros.
When a brand gets involved in amateur sports sponsorship, it seeks visibility through brand recognition, activations, brand preference at the point of purchase, but above all… through its equipment donations.
A standard jersey is a mass-produced item: a solid-color background, three stripes, or two pre-printed lines, onto which a logo is applied using screen printing or flocking. In contrast, a sublimation-printed jersey doesn’t exist until the brand has designed it. The sublimation technique involves infusing color pigments, patterns, and logos directly into the textile fiber during the fabric’s production. The result? A perfectly smooth surface, no added bulk, and durability that withstands tackles and hundreds of washes. Whereas the flocked design on a mass-produced jersey may eventually crumble and flake off after several seasons, the sublimated design remains intact, year after year.
With sublimation printing, you can incorporate your exact color schemes, textures, geometric patterns, or exclusive color gradients to create a true visual identity for your team. The jersey becomes a direct extension of your company. This creative freedom allows you to stand out from the advertising clutter and establish a strong, instantly recognizable visual presence—whether in a game photo or on the sidelines.
Moreover, by providing kits with the same cut, fabric, and level of craftsmanship as those worn by elite athletes, the brand directly elevates the status of its members. It isn’t doing charity; it’s giving enthusiasts the tools of champions. This shift from “low-cost” gear to a jersey “just like the pros” transforms how the kit is perceived. The club isn’t receiving yet another training jersey; it’s receiving genuine game gear—functional, stylish, and lifestyle-oriented—that members will cherish and wear with pride.
Major national and international brands know what they’re doing. Allianz, Volvic, Axa, and Unibet have all chosen sublimation-printed jerseys. Why? Because they’ve realized that maximum visibility comes from a memorable product. By rolling out nationwide sponsorship campaigns, these companies aren’t just buying space on a piece of fabric—they’re creating exclusive capsule collections for amateur sports. A Volvic or Unibet jersey on the field can be spotted from 200 meters away: its design is crafted to be eye-catching and to make a statement.
That’s wherethe impact becomes tangible and measurable. A jersey with a bold, unique design instantly instills a sense of pride in belonging. Players take photos of themselves, and clubs post photo galleries on their websites and social media. The resulting PR buzz spreads through the local press. This aesthetic leap transforms every league game into an opportunity for lasting business visibility. The impact on the field translates into millions of high-quality visual touchpoints.
For its national “À nos couleurs” program, Uber Eats has taken personalization to the next level. The key idea behind the campaign? Rather than imposing a ready-made jersey, the brand entrusted the design of the uniforms to the amateur clubs themselves. Thanks to the total flexibility of sublimation printing, the brand has given licensees and their clubs free rein to use their creativity to tell their own local stories and incorporate their regional symbols, all while adhering toUber Eats’ brand guidelines.
By offering clubs the opportunity to design a unique jersey worthy of the top Ligue 1 clubs, the brand sparked an unprecedented craze in the history of amateur soccer in France: more than 6,600 out of 12,000 clubs applied for a chance to win their custom kits. Half of France got involved. This participatory initiative turned into a nationwide media campaign that generated thousands of organic posts, reveal videos, and shares on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, propellingUber Eats’ visibility right into the heart of local communities (and we can definitely say it was a huge success).
Ready to boost your brand’s presence in the amateur sports scene with a customized marketing campaign? Find out how to engage your target market.
What is the difference between a standard jersey and a sublimated jersey? A standard jersey is a run-of-the-mill product from a catalog to which logos are added using flocking or screen printing. A sublimated jersey is created from scratch: the designs, colors, and logos are embedded directly into the fabric fibers through dye-sublimation during the manufacturing process, which ensures maximum durability.
Why do brands prefer sublimation printing for amateur sports? Brands like Unibet and Axa choose sublimation printing to ensure complete creative freedom and strict adherence to their brand guidelines. This allows them to create exclusive designs with high added value. It turns amateur players into proud brand ambassadors.
What is the real impact of a sublimation-printed jersey on the field? The impact is twofold. For the players, it gives them the feeling of playing “like pros,” which strengthens their appreciation for the sponsor. For the brand, the jersey becomes a true media platform: made with the highest quality, it generates more shares on social media and provides lasting visibility, season after season, without any deterioration of the logos.
When a brand gets involved in amateur sports sponsorship, it seeks visibility through brand recognition, activations, brand preference at the point of purchase, but above all… through its equipment donations.
A standard jersey is a mass-produced item: a solid-color background, three stripes, or two pre-printed lines, onto which a logo is applied using screen printing or flocking. In contrast, a sublimation-printed jersey doesn’t exist until the brand has designed it. The sublimation technique involves infusing color pigments, patterns, and logos directly into the textile fiber during the fabric’s production. The result? A perfectly smooth surface, no added bulk, and durability that withstands tackles and hundreds of washes. Whereas the flocked design on a mass-produced jersey may eventually crumble and flake off after several seasons, the sublimated design remains intact, year after year.
With sublimation printing, you can incorporate your exact color schemes, textures, geometric patterns, or exclusive color gradients to create a true visual identity for your team. The jersey becomes a direct extension of your company. This creative freedom allows you to stand out from the advertising clutter and establish a strong, instantly recognizable visual presence—whether in a game photo or on the sidelines.
Moreover, by providing kits with the same cut, fabric, and level of craftsmanship as those worn by elite athletes, the brand directly elevates the status of its members. It isn’t doing charity; it’s giving enthusiasts the tools of champions. This shift from “low-cost” gear to a jersey “just like the pros” transforms how the kit is perceived. The club isn’t receiving yet another training jersey; it’s receiving genuine game gear—functional, stylish, and lifestyle-oriented—that members will cherish and wear with pride.
Major national and international brands know what they’re doing. Allianz, Volvic, Axa, and Unibet have all chosen sublimation-printed jerseys. Why? Because they’ve realized that maximum visibility comes from a memorable product. By rolling out nationwide sponsorship campaigns, these companies aren’t just buying space on a piece of fabric—they’re creating exclusive capsule collections for amateur sports. A Volvic or Unibet jersey on the field can be spotted from 200 meters away: its design is crafted to be eye-catching and to make a statement.
That’s wherethe impact becomes tangible and measurable. A jersey with a bold, unique design instantly instills a sense of pride in belonging. Players take photos of themselves, and clubs post photo galleries on their websites and social media. The resulting PR buzz spreads through the local press. This aesthetic leap transforms every league game into an opportunity for lasting business visibility. The impact on the field translates into millions of high-quality visual touchpoints.
For its national “À nos couleurs” program, Uber Eats has taken personalization to the next level. The key idea behind the campaign? Rather than imposing a ready-made jersey, the brand entrusted the design of the uniforms to the amateur clubs themselves. Thanks to the total flexibility of sublimation printing, the brand has given licensees and their clubs free rein to use their creativity to tell their own local stories and incorporate their regional symbols, all while adhering toUber Eats’ brand guidelines.
By offering clubs the opportunity to design a unique jersey worthy of the top Ligue 1 clubs, the brand sparked an unprecedented craze in the history of amateur soccer in France: more than 6,600 out of 12,000 clubs applied for a chance to win their custom kits. Half of France got involved. This participatory initiative turned into a nationwide media campaign that generated thousands of organic posts, reveal videos, and shares on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, propellingUber Eats’ visibility right into the heart of local communities (and we can definitely say it was a huge success).
Ready to boost your brand’s presence in the amateur sports scene with a customized marketing campaign? Find out how to engage your target market.
What is the difference between a standard jersey and a sublimated jersey? A standard jersey is a run-of-the-mill product from a catalog to which logos are added using flocking or screen printing. A sublimated jersey is created from scratch: the designs, colors, and logos are embedded directly into the fabric fibers through dye-sublimation during the manufacturing process, which ensures maximum durability.
Why do brands prefer sublimation printing for amateur sports? Brands like Unibet and Axa choose sublimation printing to ensure complete creative freedom and strict adherence to their brand guidelines. This allows them to create exclusive designs with high added value. It turns amateur players into proud brand ambassadors.
What is the real impact of a sublimation-printed jersey on the field? The impact is twofold. For the players, it gives them the feeling of playing “like pros,” which strengthens their appreciation for the sponsor. For the brand, the jersey becomes a true media platform: made with the highest quality, it generates more shares on social media and provides lasting visibility, season after season, without any deterioration of the logos.
