The Univ. of Florida in September "extended Nike's contract to be its official athletic supplier" through '24, according to Matthew Kish of the PORTLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL. UF under the new deal receives $3.1M in Nike product this academic year, up from the $2.1M "it was previously due." The financial increase "is significant because it signals that Nike is willing to write bigger checks to keep key programs" The extension also "might have played a role in the bidding frenzy to become" the Univ. of Miami's new athletic supplier, which adidas won by "seemingly outbidding Under Armour" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/15).
SHOUT AT THE DEVILS: In Phoenix, Jeff Metcalfe reports Nike has informed Arizona State "that it will no longer make ASU gear for retail sale." Nike's contract to outfit ASU athletics ends in June. The school in December announced an "eight-year apparel partnership with Adidas" beginning with the '15-16 school year. Even after signing the adidas deal, ASU had "still planned to license other apparel companies to sell ASU gear at retail stores." The school said in a statement, "ASU is willing to continue to work with Nike as a licensee, and it continues to be open to considering all licensees interested in producing retail items for Sun Devil fans" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/16).
