UW's new apparel deal

[GGGG]

Signing with Under Armour

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/25331284/wisconsin-is-leaving-adidas-in-2016-for-10-year-deal-with-under-armour

$3 million in product in the first year
$4 million in cash contribution not including royalty payments, up from $800,000.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I think what's funny about this is how northwestern has become the Oregon for under Armour. Madison paying catchup to northwestern in football apparel

[MUfan12]

I think what's funny about this is how northwestern has become the Oregon for under Armour.

You spelled Maryland wrong.

[GGGG]

I think what's funny about this is how northwestern has become the Oregon for under Armour. Madison paying catchup to northwestern in football apparel

Madison's contract with adidas ends after this year.  And my guess is that they are getting paid a ton more than NW is.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

You spelled Maryland wrong.

Not this year. NU hasn't worn the same jersey twice this year. Plus the NU uniforms are way better then those flag uniform monstrosities.

[WarriorInNYC]

Not this year. NU hasn't worn the same jersey twice this year. Plus the NU uniforms are way better then those flag uniform monstrosities.

You're not getting it.  The founder/owner of UA is a Maryland alum, and hence, that school is always getting tons of gear.
Just as the CEO of Nike is an Oregon alum.

[WarriorInNYC]

As Paint Touches pointed out in a tweet earlier today, this is perfect timing for the recruitment of Diamond Stone.

[mu03eng]

I can't wait until Wisconsin's uniforms are just hideous garbage.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I can't wait until Wisconsin's uniforms are just hideous garbage.

Ehhh, UA>Adidas

[mu03eng]

Ehhh, UA>Adidas

Have you seen the s$%tshow uniforms that Maryland, Northwestern, etc have trotted out?  They are terrible.  It'd be like Nike running MU out in a new uniform every game.  Like it or not UW has an iconic look, and UA(assuming they do all the uniform swapping they like to do) is gonna make it look terrible.

Side note, Adidas athletic apparel is way better than UA IMO but I'm likely biased as a soccer guy who's been wearing Adidas since I was 5.

[GGGG]

Have you seen the s$%tshow uniforms that Maryland, Northwestern, etc have trotted out?  They are terrible.  It'd be like Nike running MU out in a new uniform every game.  Like it or not UW has an iconic look, and UA(assuming they do all the uniform swapping they like to do) is gonna make it look terrible.

Side note, Adidas athletic apparel is way better than UA IMO but I'm likely biased as a soccer guy who's been wearing Adidas since I was 5.

I like the UA uniform concepts much better than the adidas ones. 

[StillAWarrior]

Side note, Adidas athletic apparel is way better than UA IMO but I'm likely biased as a soccer guy who's been wearing Adidas since I was 5.

With four kids ranging 12-18 that have been active in sports, we've had more than our share of UA merchandise over the years.  We were squarely in the middle of the real emergence of the UA brand.  I've found the apparel to be pretty good (Adidas is also excellent).  Our experience with the shoes has not been good...terrible actually.  We won't even consider UA shoes any more. 

[mu03eng]

I like the UA uniform concepts much better than the adidas ones.

Google image "under armour Maryland football uniforms".....it's good that it is October cause it's a real horror show.

[GGGG]

Google image "under armour Maryland football uniforms".....it's good that it is October cause it's a real horror show.

Yeah.  I like them. 

[mu03eng]

Yeah.  I like them.

Have you been diagnosed with a tumor?  Kidding aside, to each their own, I'll just UA's design aesthetic is not in line with mine. 

[Litehouse]

I'll have to switch my boycott from Adidas to UA, since it's now the brand of both UW and ND.  I'm just glad the NBA is finally getting away from Adidas and going to Nike.  I thought Adidas' concept unis for both college and the NBA have been terrible, especially the t-shirt jerseys.

[wadesworld]

Under Armour tries to do too much.  Nike has tried to do too much in the past and realized that simple is oftentimes better and corrected it.

[GGGG]

Adidas is a bit of a stodgy, old European company that carries tremendous weight in soccer circles, but I don't think knows how to handle the American market which Nike dominates and UA is the upstart.  If I were adidas, I would consider letting Reebok (subsidiary based in Massachusetts) handle their American college and pro business.  Reebok has been building their brand in the fitness world (CrossFit, Les Mills, UFC) which attracts a younger audience anyway.  I think that can better spread into intercollegiate athletics.

[JWags85]

UA does some things extremely well.  I swear by their spandex and other "under gear" and I have a couple pairs of shorts that are absolutely fantastic.  Their shoes are lacking and don't really play in soccer, which is where a lot of my casual athletic gear comes from.  But there is no denying the cache they have with young athletes due to the "cool" factor and their athlete lineup is on point.  Tough to beat Steph Curry and Spieth as two of your big dogs right now, though Durant would have been massive as well.

I think the Maryland flat helmets are absolute fire, but the rest of the jerseys usually end up being a bit too busy.  I like what they've done with Northwestern, a lot actually.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Have you seen the s$%tshow uniforms that Maryland, Northwestern, etc have trotted out?  They are terrible.  It'd be like Nike running MU out in a new uniform every game.  Like it or not UW has an iconic look, and UA(assuming they do all the uniform swapping they like to do) is gonna make it look terrible.

Side note, Adidas athletic apparel is way better than UA IMO but I'm likely biased as a soccer guy who's been wearing Adidas since I was 5.

I've seen many a Northwestern uniforms and the one year they were with Adidas was the worst. Still have nightmares over those all purple uniforms. The gothic uniforms they have as an alternate now are sick.

[🏀]

I don't mind the UA uniforms, but the racists in Madison are going to HAAAATE them.

[GooooMarquette]

Under Armour tries to do too much.  Nike has tried to do too much in the past and realized that simple is oftentimes better and corrected it.

+1

I knew we were in trouble when someone referred to "uniform concepts" earlier in the thread.  Maybe the uniform equivalent of corporate-speak?  Let's synergize our core competencies by making an impact hire to better leverage our body of work and move to the next level.  By the way, I'll be out of pocket for the next hour.

[GGGG]

+1

I knew we were in trouble when someone referred to "uniform concepts" earlier in the thread.  Maybe the uniform equivalent of corporate-speak?  Let's synergize our core competencies by making an impact hire to better leverage our body of work and move to the next level.  By the way, I'll be out of pocket for the next hour.

HEY!  "Uniform concepts" was something I just pulled out of my a$$ when typing.  I just meant their various concepts for uniforms.

[GooooMarquette]

HEY!  "Uniform concepts" was something I just pulled out of my a$$ when typing.  I just meant their various concepts for uniforms.

Just messin' with you....

[Sylvester78]

UW will never let UA go crazy with their uniforms like Maryland who may have needed some attention for their football program.  Bucky likes tradition and plain Jane.

Names on the hoops jerseys?

[GGGG]

UW will never let UA go crazy with their uniforms like Maryland who may have needed some attention for their football program.  Bucky likes tradition and plain Jane.

Names on the hoops jerseys?

No names on the hoops jerseys is a Bo thing.  They have had them on there before.

But you are right.  My guess is that you will see something more along the lines of Notre Dame.  Pretty traditional but with some new stuff thrown in now and then.

https://www.google.com/search?q=notre+dame+under+armour&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=643&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAgQ_AUoA2oVChMI1enJ7v-1yAIVw40NCh2pOw4H

[Skitch]

[wadesworld]

They look like football number and even lettering.  Looks like it's not stitched into the jersey.

[🏀]

Is the new trend not parallel numbers?

Nice tits.

[GooooMarquette]

I like the idea of rodent players without heads.  Well done, UA!

[warriorchick]

Is the new trend not parallel numbers?

Nice tits.

Looks like you can see the outline of a bra through the fabric.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Illegal hoops uniform. 

[mu-rara]

I don't mind the UA uniforms, but the racists in Madison are going to HAAAATE them.

Racists in Madison.  No way.


Oh, you're probably referring to the racists from Black Earth and Spring Green, and other surrounding areas. 

[🏀]

Racists in Madison.  No way.


Oh, you're probably referring to the racists from Black Earth and Spring Green, and other surrounding areas. 

Yeah, you're right.

[warriorchick]

Yeah, you're right.

A racist would never want to a live in a town called Black Earth.  That's the name of the place he would want all the people of color to live.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Second largest apparel deal in college athletics.

[Litehouse]

Second largest apparel deal in college athletics.

I was curious how it compared to others.  Is that based on actual money paid, or free products provided, or both?  I imagine it's easy for them to inflate the number on products.  UA is paying big for a lot of programs right now trying to get attention.  It's a big bet, and you have to wonder if they're overpaying if their growth predictions don't pan out.

[GGGG]

Second largest apparel deal in college athletics.

Behind Michigan?  Do we know the value of UA's ND contract though? 

[GooooMarquette]

Behind Michigan?  Do we know the value of UA's ND contract though?

According to Forbes in July, ND was #2 behind Michigan at $9 Million.  http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2015/07/22/the-5-most-valuable-apparel-deals-in-college-sports/

[warriorchick]

Second largest apparel deal in college athletics.

I've got a feeling they will fall down the list as other schools' current licensing deals expire.

[GooooMarquette]

I've got a feeling they will fall down the list as other schools' current licensing deals expire.

Yep.  Texas, UCLA and Louisville (currently numbers 6, 5 and 4) expire over the next three years.  Texas' deal is by far the oldest (dating from 2007) and expires in 2016, so I have to believe they'll jump to #1 soon.

[Litehouse]

These UA college deals make Nike's recent NBA deal look like a steal.  At $1Billion for 8 years with 30 teams, the Nike/NBA deal comes out to about $4.17Million/team/year.  Nike's deal with the NFL isn't publically disclosed, but was rumored to be about $6.88Million/team/year.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Behind Michigan?  Do we know the value of UA's ND contract though?

Slightly larger than ND's, but ND did theirs 2 years ago.

[GGGG]

I didn't realize that the inflation on these suckers was so ridiculous that two years would make a difference between one of the national brands in college athletics and a school that would be in that second tier. 

[warriorchick]

I didn't realize that the inflation on these suckers was so ridiculous that two years would make a difference between one of the national brands in college athletics and a school that would be in that second tier.

All it takes is one apparel brand to start offering crazy money and every other brand follows suit.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I've got a feeling they will fall down the list as other schools' current licensing deals expire.

You would be most likely correct.  The key will be what Adidas does.  If they continue to pull away from this market, that is one less bidder for these properties.  Nevertheless, UA is going in big and spending big.  Nike will remain strong as well.