USF has "reached an eight-year partnership with Adidas that begins next summer" when its current deal with Under Armour expires, according to Joey Knight of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Effective July 1, Adidas "will supply" USF with $2.8M in product (from uniforms to footwear to accessories) and $150,000 in cash annually. It will "give an additional $300,000 in product during the first year of the agreement." USF AD Mark Harlan "signed the contract on Nov. 29." While providing "more in apparel to USF over the course of the contract, the Adidas partnership gives less cash to USF" than its UA deal. The brand in its USF deal signed in July '12 provided $4.22M in cash, $7.17M in product and another $1.08M in "advertising during USF broadcasts." With Adidas, USF "can earn up to $600,000 a year in bonus merchandise and up to $500,000 a year in cash bonuses for the performance of its teams and coaches." The contract also states if USF "becomes a member of a Power Five conference during the life of the deal, Adidas agrees to renegotiate it 'to account for any proportional increase in value and/or exposure due to such membership'" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/7). In Tampa, Janelle Irwin noted USF "expects to unveil new uniforms sometime this summer." Fall sports teams including football, soccer and volleyball will be the "first to wear the new uniforms" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/6).
MIGHT AS WELL JUMP: Jordan Brand yesterday officially announced its "new partnership with Florida." In Gainesville, Robbie Andreu notes the UF football team and basketball teams starting with the '18-19 season "will wear uniforms featuring the Jumpman logo." UF becomes the "first SEC school to partner with Jordan Brand and the fourth collegiate football program (Michigan, North Carolina and Oklahoma) nationally to represent Jumpman." UF's Jordan Brand merchandise "will begin going on sale this summer" (GAINESVILLE SUN, 12/7). New UF football coach Dan Mullen said, "Recruits are always asking about swag and what kind of gear we have. ... Obviously, it is a great marketing and branding advantage to be associated with the Jordan Brand" (CBSSPORTS.com, 12/6).
