Beats Electronics LLC (Beats by Dr. Dre) was named an official partner of Bayern Munich and will exclusively provide the club with headphones and speakers to help its players prepare for games (Bayern Munich). ... English Rugby Union clubs Bath and Gloucester Rugby announced a new partnership with sports science and technology company Kitman Labs.
The Silicon Valley-based company recently signed three-year deals, which will see its Athlete Optimization System used at the two clubs.
The medical and sports science teams at Bath and Gloucester Rugby will be utilizing the Kitman Labs’ system to enable players to capture biomechanical information on a per athlete basis.
The software is being used globally, most notably in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins and the Premier League with Everton and Norwich City (Kitman Labs). ... A combination of new and retro sneaker styles "will keep driving growth at Adidas's fashion business and help attract more sports fans too." Adidas "has started to muscle back into the U.S. market, but growth has come largely from retro fashion styles." Adidas Originals head Arthur Hoeld said that the fashion business "made popular by collaborations with celebrities like Kanye West, Pharrell Williams and Rita Ora helps the brand win fans on the field too." Hoeld:
"We will capture more of the growth of the sneaker industry with our performance products, but Originals will help us to grow a more significant share. We're not concerned here internally about the balance" (REUTERS, 1/21).
