The Cavaliers are the first team to take advantage of the new inventory.NBA
The NBA is "allowing its teams to sell an additional ad patch on practice jerseys that’s more than nine times the size of what’s been allowed," as they can now "begin selling a sponsor patch that would appear on the belly area," according to Lombardo & Lefton in this week's SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL. The sales effort for the 12-by-5-inch patch "goes into effect immediately, with at least one team" in the Cavaliers "having a deal in place with Goodyear." Previously teams could sell "only a 2½-by-2½-inch patch on the front shoulder of the practice jersey, the same size of the sponsor patch that’s allowed on game jerseys." These patches will feature "either a company name or logo that is similar to the size of ads on WNBA uniforms but not as large as EPL uniforms." Teams also can "continue to have a separate shoulder ad patch on practice jerseys." The practice jersey patches "only may be worn during official team practices or shootarounds, and up to 90 minutes before a game." Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment CEO Scott O’Neil said, “It will be good anchor inventory for a deal, for those of us without naming rights or a uniform patch to sell." Team sources see the new program as a "potential new moneymaker to be sold with game jersey patches," which range in value from $5-20M annually (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/28 issue).
