VANCOUVER -- The Whitecaps took another major stride Thursday en route to their inaugural MLS season in 2011.

Just two days after unveiling their new logo, the Vancouver soccer organization announced a premier founding partnership with Bell and revealed their new uniforms.

"While we haven't signed any players yet, there's no doubt that we have improved our roster by signing with Bell Canada," said Whitecaps CEO Paul Barber. "One of the key components of this partnership is having the Bell name on our jersey."

Co-owner Jeff Mallett said talks with Bell started about 18 months ago but got serious during the Olympics.

"Our desire is to have one of the premier football clubs in the world," Mallett said. "I respect the past but now it's about the future."

As part of the "multi-year" agreement, Bell will provide $100,000 per year to the Whitecaps Foundation, and fans will also be able to view Whitecaps content on the Bell smartphone starting in 2011.

Whitecaps men's team captain Martin Nash and women's Kara Lang modeled the new adidas kits, which features the new team logo and Bell's brand logo, and both were in favour of the new look.

"It's a great look," said Lang. "The new logo is extremely professional and it speaks to tradition of the club. To watch it all move forward like this is very exciting."