License Bureau: Majestic Gears For MLB; Reebok NBA All-Stars

Majestic Athletic was profiled by Harold Brubaker of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, who wrote baseball is company's "bread and butter." Majestic this season is making the uniforms for 15 MLB clubs and becomes "the exclusive supplier of game uniforms, batting jerseys and other items for all 30 major league teams" starting in '05. Majestic now shares the right to sell authentic and replica MLB jerseys with Russell Athletic. Majestic President Faust Capobianco said that the new MLB agreement "could boost Majestic's sales" by over 25%. The company's sales were estimated last year at $178M. Majestic also has agreements to make some NBA, NFL and NHL items, as well as retro jerseys for the USFL. Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association Dir of Communications Mike May said of Majestic, "It's a name that's highly respected. I think they are bigger than most people give them credit for" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 8/25).

STARRING ROLE: Reebok and the NBA announced that players in the '04 NBA All-Star Game at Staples Center in L.A. will wear a new line of All-Star apparel created by Reebok. It will be the first time since '96 that the All-Stars will wear new uniforms. Last season, the NBA All-Stars wore retro uniforms from the '88 Game. Reebok also plans to offer All-Star women's dresses, polo shorts, T-shirts, headwear and warm-ups as part of the new line. Reebok and the NBA also formally announced the launch of the D'funkd NBA apparel line and the continuation of the Hardwood Classic Nights program (Reebok).