NFL owners "approved a long-term licensing agreement"
with Reebok Int'l by a 30-1 vote last Tuesday, "granting
Reebok exclusive rights to manufacture and sell" NFL team
uniforms and sideline apparel beginning in '02, according to
sources of Andy Bernstein of the SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. The
deal calls for Reebok to outfit 21 teams in '01 and become
the exclusive supplier for every team in '02. Champion and
adidas will "remain on-field suppliers and licensees" in
'01. Reebok will also "pick up the rights to market several
new lines" of NFL products, including an "NFL Equipment"
brand of training gear and apparel that will "not carry any
Reebok identification visible to the consumer." Under the
deal, teams receive "rights to control retail distribution
in their markets," and Bernstein writes that "although few
teams are expected to exercise that option, major market
clubs, and particularly" the Cowboys could agree to
marketing deals with local retail chains and "keep products
out of stores that do not have deals with the respective
teams." Reebok's "annual financial commitment" to the
league is "well over" $25M (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 12/18).
