SANTA ANA, Calif. — Yokohama Tire Corp. has become a sponsor of Southern Soccer Academy (SSA), a Marietta, Ga.-based non-profit that provides soccer training and league play opportunities to boys and girls ages 3 to 19 who live in the Atlanta, Savannah and Coastal Georgia areas.
"SSA is really a perfect fit because Yokohama is the official shirt sponsor of reigning English Premier League champions Chelsea FC, and SSA is Chelsea's football development partner in the U.S," said Alan Holtschneider, Yokohama's director of marketing.
Starting this spring, Yokohama will be the exclusive title sponsor of the SSA's academy, select, recreational and 3v3 tournaments, which will be named the "SSA Chelsea Classic Series Driven by Yokohama."
The SSA has a membership of 8,000 players and 600 teams, and its tournaments attract more than 1,000 teams each year.
"This is an exciting time for our club with our continued growth across Georgia," SSA Executive Director Simon Davey said. "We are thrilled to have partnered with such an innovative global organization like Yokohama Tire and look forward to a longstanding relationship."
In addition to the SSA, Yokohama has partnered with teams and tournaments across professional and youth sports. Current sponsorships include Chelsea F.C., Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels, Nitro Circus Live US Tour, Nitro World Games, Spartan Race Series and the Needham Memorial Day Soccer Tournament Driven by Yokohama.