The Univ. of Michigan yesterday announced that it "has reached an agreement in principle with Nike to become the Wolverines' official athletic footwear, apparel and equipment provider to all 31 of U-M's athletic programs" until '27, with an option to extend to '31, according to Brendan Quinn of MLIVE.com. Financial terms of the deal "will not be made available until July 13." UM "will continue to wear" adidas through the '15-16 academic year "before transitioning to Nike" next July. The changeover "will be complete" in August '16. Fans "won't be able to purchase any U-M Nike gear until that time." UM's years with adidas, "though financially fruitful for the department, drew mixed reviews from the fan base." While some alternate jerseys "were well received, others were not." UM said that the new partnership "will be multilayered and including student internships at Nike headquarters and community events." Part of UM's new deal includes the "use of the Jordan Brand 'Jumpman' apparel and footwear for men's and women's basketball" (MLIVE.com, 7/6).
DEAL DETAILS: In Detroit, Angelique Chengelis notes in switching to Nike, UM "is turning from a highly lucrative deal with adidas." UM interim AD Jim Hackett yesterday afternoon "announced the Nike deal to UM athletes and staff at an informal meeting at the Crisler Center." This "is a coup for Nike, which will now have the top-three selling college brands in its fold." CLC last August reported that Texas "led the nation in licensed merchandise sales, while Alabama was second and Michigan third." adidas "has lost contracts with Tennessee and Michigan and is currently working on renewing with Wisconsin, but speculation is the Badgers will move to Under Armour" (DETROIT NEWS, 7/7). Also in Detroit, Mark Snyder notes UM initially received $6.85M per year from adidas, and that figure "has been pushed higher by other schools' new deals." UM's contract "included the 'most favored nation' clause, meaning U-M always would be brought up to the level of any new Adidas contract." The "most recent apparel landmark" was Notre Dame switching to UA in January '14 for a reported 10 years and $90M. That "set the bar" for UM (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 7/7).
