Handcrafted ring celebrates soccer team’s first MLS Cup Victory

ATLANTA, March 14, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jostens, the leading provider of custom, handcrafted fine jewelry for professional sports teams, unveiled Major League Soccer’s 2018 MLS Cup Championship Ring today. Players on Atlanta United’s 2018 MLS Cup Championship team received the rings in a private ceremony.

Atlanta United's 2018 MLS Cup Championship Ring, created by Jostens.

“We at Jostens are honored to partner with Atlanta United to create their stunning championship ring,” said Chris Poitras, Vice President of Professional Sports. “Atlanta United’s ring is truly one-of-a-kind; and not only proudly tells their Championship story but it pays tribute to the city of Atlanta and its passionate fan base.”

Conquering their first MLS Cup Championship in only their second season as a club, Atlanta United made Major League Soccer history. In honor of the remarkable accomplishment, an equally spectacular ring was crafted to commemorate the historic championship run.

Made from 10-karat white and yellow gold, this meticulously-crafted ode to excellence is adorned with 101 white diamonds that create a cascading waterfall effect on the ring top.  An additional 14 stunning color enhanced yellow diamonds form the “A” which sits atop the iconic five stripes. The stripes, representing Unity, Excellence, Community, Determination and Innovation, are created from custom black onyx and garnet stones intricately fit together. Yellow gold train tracks wrap around the top and bottom of the ring edges as an ode to Atlanta’s railroad history. The tracks are accented with a single diamond and ruby at either side of ring top, representing the two years of franchise history. Completing the ring top are the words “MLS CUP CHAMPIONS” accented with a star, symbolizing the 2018 MLS Cup Championship.

The right side of the ring features the club name set in yellow gold above the Atlanta skyline. The coveted MLS Cup sits in the center of the city skyline, with the word “CONQUERED” boldly set upon the trophy. The championship year date of 2018 completes the right side of the ring.

The left side of the ring displays the clubs rally cry “UNITE & CONQUER” in yellow gold, set above the recipient’s name. In contrasting yellow gold, the “UNITED” mark pays tribute to Atlanta’s unwavering perseverance and serves as a reminder to players and supporters that we all carry the city on our backs. Within the design lies a Golden Spike, a symbol of the club’s tradition which stems from the city’s railroad beginnings. It’s a match day tradition, a sacred moment connecting the supporter directly to the player, acting as a telling and ever-growing bond. Together, we are bold, proud and diverse – but above all, we are UNITED. Finishing the left side of the ring is the player’s number set with diamonds. 

The interior of the ring features the date the championship was won, the final score of the match, and motto “5-STRIPES DON’T STOP”.

The intricate ring tells the story of Atlanta’s season with a total of 101 white diamonds, 14 color enhanced yellow diamonds and one genuine ruby for a total carat weight of 2.03 carats. These elements all come together to form a highly symbolic championship ring worthy of the greatness of the club and the highly passionate fan base.

To honor the best fans in the league, fans can capture their piece of the MLS Cup Championship and commemorate this exciting time in franchise history through a custom selection of personalized fine jewelry and championship collectables, all pieces are inspired by the teams Championship Ring. This collection is available for a limited time and can be ordered online at www.jostens.com/united.

ABOUT JOSTENS
Jostens is a trusted partner in the academic and achievement channel, providing products, programs and services that help its customers celebrate moments that matter. The company's products include yearbooks, publications, jewelry and consumer goods that serve the K-12 educational, college and professional sports segments. Founded in 1897 and based in Minneapolis, Minn., Jostens is a subsidiary of Platinum Equity and can be found online at www.jostens.com. In addition to crafting the 2018 MLS Cup ring for the Atlanta United, Jostens had previously partnered with the Atlanta Falcons on their 2016 NFC Championship ring.

ABOUT ATLANTA UNITED
Atlanta United joined Major League Soccer in 2017 and won the 2018 MLS Cup in just its second season of existence, the earliest an expansion team has won the title since 1998. During its inaugural season, Atlanta also became just the fourth team in league history to qualify for MLS Cup Playoffs in its first year. The club has set multiple league records including season tickets sales (36,000-plus), single-game attendance (72,243), single-season average (53,002) and total home attendance (901,033). Owned by one of the city’s most influential businessmen and philanthropists, Arthur M. Blank, and led by club President Darren Eales, Atlanta United plays its home matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For more information about Atlanta United, including how to purchase season tickets, visit: www.atlutd.com, and follow @ATLUTD.

CONTACT
Jeff Peterson
JOSTENS
jeff.peterson@jostens.com 
952-830-3348

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ee335cf3-67b3-44c9-8f2b-74d83d51776a