The NHL awarded Pro Player licensing rights to
manufacture authentic and replica jerseys -- joining CCM,
which had previously renewed its deal. The deal marks Pro
Player's first authentic, on-field program with a major pro
sports league. Pro Player will replace Starter on-ice and
NHL Senior VP & COO Steve Solomon said, "Starter has been a
good partner of the [NHL] in the jersey category over the
past three years. It was a very difficult decision to make
but the levels of commitment and investment to grow the
jersey category by CCM and Pro Player could not be matched"
(THE DAILY). The SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Andy Bernstein
reports in THE DAILY that Starter pulled out of
negotiations, as a company exec said the price tag the
league was seeking was too high. Starter had been an NHL
licensee since '95. Bernstein adds that the NHL and its
teams are expected to see a large revenue increase from the
new licensing deal, which will reportedly direct marketing
dollars to each and every team, and increase the minimum
royalty payments guaranteed to the league (THE DAILY).
