The process of creating a new Supporters’ Shield has been a long and rewarding endeavor. Over the past few years, through the Independent Supporters Council of the United States and Canada (ISC), we have brought supporters group leadership from across the league together to achieve a common goal. The Shield has been a shining example of the positive collaboration that can be achieved even between the largest of rivals. We believe that this award holds a unique place in the history of this league and the game in this country. Take a minute and read the history of the Supporters’ Shield to gain some perspective on how it came to be, and the connection between fans and this award.
Thank you to all those that have been committed to this cause from the origination in 1997 through today. To look back at the evolution of supporters over the years is amazing. We hope that we have made everyone proud in this new embodiment of the idea.
What is the Supporters’ Shield Foundation?
The Supporters’ Shield Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 created to fund, promote, and protect the Supporters’ Shield. The Foundation is responsible for overseeing its intellectual property and restricting commercial use of the award. The officers of the foundation are elected annually by the Independent Supporters Council. You can find more detail about the officers and legalese at the links above.
Is this award only for those supporter groups in the ISC?
No. The creation of the new award is done by the ISC for the benefit of all supporters. The Shield was created as a gift to both the league and its supporters in 1998. We continue that vision by presenting this updated trophy to the league and all of its supporters. Additionally the new Shield will be traveling around the league this season giving everyone a chance to see and interact with the trophy and those responsible for its creation.
How can I support this effort?
The most helpful way to support us is by telling this story to your fellow supporters. Spread the gospel of the Shield, its history and its future. Secondarily you can assist financially. The creation of the shield was expensive. We have invested over 15k dollars to date. This cost of the trophy was divided among the supporter groups participating. This represents a significant investment from all those involved. In order to repay the participating supporters groups their investment amount; the foundation will be accepting donations as well as generating revenue via scarf sales. You can find them here.