Under Armour, Fanatics Promise Wider Array Of MLB Items

Under Armour today formally unveiled a 10-year deal to provide all MLB uniforms beginning in '20, marking the brand's "first uniform agreement with an American professional league." Fanatics will have "licensing rights to manufacture and distribute fan gear." UA and Fanatics "promised a more responsive and significant assortment of merchandise" for fans. New fan gear, including "jerseys, name and number products and postseason apparel, will be available" prior to the '20 season (BALTIMORESUN.com, 12/5).

Sources said that in this "vertically integrated system, MLB teams will make a higher royalty per jersey," as a "more streamlined selling process means fewer players from production to getting into the hands of fans" (ESPN.com, 12/5).