The rich get richer. NIke currently has uniform deals with the NBA and the NFL and according to a Sports Business Journal report, the Beaverton, Oregon based sports giant is closing in on the completion of an agreement to take over Under Armour’s upcoming Major League Baseball uniform contract.
UA inked a ten-year deal in 2016 to become the official supplier of on-field unis for Major League. In 2017 the agreement was moved up to 2019, but in mid-April the date was again altered, this time to 2020.
By no longer entering into the agreement, Under Armour will save $50 million. A drastic reduction in the company’s growth from its state in 2016 necessitated the move. A source quoted from SBD stated, “They were a different company when they did the deal. It’s just not affordable for Under Armour anymore.”
The Nike-MLB deal is “80% done”, and will likely be unveiled at or around the All-Star Game in July, according to another SBD source.
