Cubs Announce Multiyear Jersey Patch Deal with Motorola

We’ve known this was coming for quite some time, but it’s still a little shocking to see it come to fruition. The Cubs announced Thursday that they have entered a multiyear agreement with Motorola to place the company’s “batwing” logo on the sleeves of all their jerseys. While there’s no word yet on how lucrative this partnership will be, the Yankees are reportedly making at least $25 million annually and $200 million overall from their deal with Starr Insurance.

The timing of this is interesting because it comes in the midst of poor play and a disappointing outcome at the trade deadline. Perhaps more pressing for business operations, however, is the uncertainty of Marquee’s carriage deals moving forward. The network stands to make less money moving forward as the RSN model continues to lose clout, so firing up another revenue stream makes sense.

I have to imagine this is going to piss more than a few people off to a great degree and I get it. My only real gripe is that Motorola does feel very Chicago even if the company is headquartered in the Merchandise Mart and already sponsors the Bulls. This deal leaves just seven teams without a sponsorship patch, though I’m not sure that count includes the Phillies, who just announced a deal with Independence Blue Cross on Thursday as well.

The Cubs will be sporting their new duds — not to be confused with their overall dud of a season — against the Cardinals on Thursday at Wrigley Field. More info can be found in the media release below.

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today announced a multiyear agreement with Motorola Mobility as the club’s “Official Jersey Patch Partner,” placing the iconic Motorola “batwing” logo on all home, road and alternate jerseys for Spring Training, the regular season and postseason as well as the Nike MLB City Connect jersey, worn on select Fridays at Wrigley Field. Cubs fans will notice the new jersey patch on uniforms starting today, August 1, when the Cubs take on the St. Louis Cardinals at 7:05 p.m. CT.

“We took great care when it came to selecting a jersey patch partner and are thrilled to welcome back Chicago-based Motorola to the Cubs,” said Cubs Vice President of Corporate Partnerships Alex Seyferth. “When working through the jersey design, we put a lot of effort into making sure Motorola’s logo seamlessly integrated into the Cubs’ uniform, adjusting the colors of the batwing logo to match the Cubs brand. Through this partnership, we’re aligning two iconic Chicago brands through innovation and tradition.”

As part of the partnership, the Chicago-based telecom giant will have various in-ballpark signage elements including both the permanent and rotational signage behind home plate as well as several in-game features. To further engage with Cubs fans and the community, Motorola will utilize Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson as a spokesperson and will have fundraiser sponsorship opportunities with Cubs Charities. Plus, with Motorola serving as the “Official Smartphone Partner” of the Cubs and Wrigley Field, the club’s social media channels will utilize the new motorola razr+ smartphone to capture social content.

“As a company committed to innovation and offering unique experiences, Motorola is thrilled to strengthen our North American sports portfolio through this strategic collaboration with the Chicago Cubs,” said Motorola North America President Rudi Kalil. “This partnership isn’t just a milestone for Motorola and the Cubs; it represents Motorola’s broader commitment to enhance and grow our brand within the market and drive meaningful engagement with consumers. We’re confident that this partnership will propel us to new heights and further solidify our position in North America.”

Starting today, Motorola will have a permanent space at Gallagher Way next to the Cubs Team Store (3643 N. Clark St.). Named the “motorola razr room,” the space currently houses the Ryne Sandberg pop-up exhibit and includes opportunities to engage with Motorola’s newest devices. Come September, the motorola razr room will be transformed into the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame pop-up exhibit featuring memorabilia from Aramis Ramírez and Kerry Wood’s baseball career.