The Univ. of Miami "stands to receive more money, more gear and more marketing push" from the school's new 12-year deal with adidas than it received from Nike, according to Matt Porter of the PALM BEACH POST. The agreement, adidas' "longest ever contract" with a college, ends UM's "27-year marriage" to Nike. UM, a private school, is not required to disclose its financial dealings, but a source said that the deal is “'significantly' more lucrative" than UM’s pact with Nike. Porter reports the deal "could be similar" to the one adidas and the Univ. of Louisville signed last year, which is worth $7.8M annually. The UM agreement, which begins Sept. 1 and runs through June 30, 2028, "could be worth more than" $90M over the life of the contract. UM will "receive cash every year, an allotment of apparel and equipment, and a major marketing push" from adidas. While UM’s new uniforms, which adidas said will be released this summer, will "likely be colorful, UM also wants a classic look." The school will have the "option to wear plenty of styles." All teams will "receive new uniforms and apparel" (PALM BEACH POST, 1/9). In Ft. Lauderdale, Christy Cabrera Chirinos notes adidas officials have been meeting with UM coaches in recent days to "begin working on the details for uniforms, shoes, and equipment." Those meetings will continue, with a "special focus on making sure the Hurricanes fall sports teams -- particularly football, which have new uniforms for a second straight year -- are outfitted when their new seasons begin" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 1/9).
EYE OF THE STORM: In Miami, Manny Navarro notes UM is just the "13th program from a Power 5 conference to sign" with adidas, including UCLA, Kansas, Louisville, N.C. State, Wisconsin and Arizona State. UM AD Blake James said, “It’s an opportunity from a product standpoint to not only outfit all of our teams, but to really have more product than we’ve ever had. ... For me one of the key things was the marketing activation. You saw it right away (Thursday) with them taking over the ESPN college football page and promoting the kickoff of this September 2015. I think it’s just one of the things where (Adidas) having a smaller group of schools gives them a little more flexibility. Nike obviously has a much a larger stable. It’s two different business models and I would say right now the better business model for us was to go with Adidas" (MIAMI HERALD, 1/9).
adidas Sports Marketing Dir Chris McGuire said that the company "considered Miami 'a target market.'" McGuire: "We've looked at Miami for the last five or six years and said 'Let's do what it takes to get there.'" (AP, 1/8).
SIDELINE WARNING: UM football coach Al Golden wears a tie during games, and James said getting the company involved in Golden's apparel choice was "something we talked about." James: "Is it an Adidas-branded tie or buttoned down shirt? That’s one of the things we talked about. I think we’ll get to some type of solution there. Given their company interest they want to try to support his desire to be shirt and tie on the sidelines at the same time be further strengthen their brand and their partnership with us. I think down the line we’ll see something maybe as early as this fall” (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 1/8).
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article5624979.html#storylink=cpyUM AD Blake James said, "It’s an opportunity from a product standpoint to not only outfit all of our teams, but to really have more product than we’ve ever had. Again, for me one of the key things was the marketing activation. You saw it right away [Thursday] with them taking over the ESPN college football page and promoting the kickoff of this September 2015. I think it’s just one of the things where [Adidas] having a smaller group of schools gives them a little more flexibility. Nike obviously has a much a larger stable. It’s two different business models and I would say right now the better business model for us was to go with Adidas"
