Fanatics will use the same factory in Quebec to produce NHL uniforms for players initially. Same specs as before. Interesting to read about the MLB 10 year agreement with Nike and Fanatics. When Nike took the agreement over from Under Armour they continued to make the MLB player uniforms in the same NJ plant and changed the logo only. Similar to the NHL and Fanatics for player uniforms. MLB fans were upset at the Nike swoosh being on the chest of MLB uniforms. The interesting part as it relates to the NHL is Fanatics, under the agreement is in charge of manufacturing and distribution of the Nike MLB Authentic Collection for fans. Also from the same plant in New Jersey. Nike and MLB seem to trust Fanatics to handle the manufacturing and distribution. Apparently a lot of the apparel is manufactured in the same places by the same workers and same fabrics so there is not always a huge discrepancy in quality regardless of which company pays to have there name on the uniform. Nike, Adidas and Fanatics etc are as much about marketing and distribution in many cases. Fanatics even bought Majestic a few years ago who made MLB uniforms for players for 15 years. It is dizzying what the cross over is with these uniform companies. My conclusion, and I am no expert, is they are all about the same.
Fanatics Will Be NHL’s new on-ice uniform partner starting in 24-25
- Thread starter DaBadGuy7
- Start date
Thinking the workers in these plants do not work for Fanatics/Nike/Under Armour, etc. Instead the factory is owned by some random company who hires the workers and contracts with the labels.
Yukon Joe
Registered User
Arthur Morgan
Registered User
I thought the NHL paid for these things. did the previous jersey makers I forget who it was Rebok or Adidas pay the NHL as well?
either way from what I understand Fanatics is a cheap low quality jersey
No these companies Nike/Adidas etc pay the leagues to be the outfitters. It's part PR and part sales driven for these companies. Here are the deal amounts
NFL is with Nike at $2.5b for ten years.
$250m annually
NBA is with Nike at $1b for eight years.
$125m annually
MLB is with Nike at $1b for ten years.
$100m annually
NHL was with Adidas at $490m for 7 years
$70m yr. Reebok was paying $35m yr before current Adidas deal. Adidas was losing money so didn't renew. Fanatics is likely less than previous deal.
MLS is with Adidas at $830m for 6 years.
$138m annually
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LadyStanley
Registered User
That what’s the. Biosteel fanatics defenders don’t understand.
Big name mainstream brands don’t value the nhl . Bad look for a “ major league” sport
Yukon Joe
Registered User
I'm sorry - this is a dumb take.
Here's a list of the world's most valuable brands:
List of most valuable brands - Wikipedia
Most valuable brand is Apple on most lists. They don't sponsor the NHL. Is it because they don't value hockey?
Or rather - they don't sponsor any sports leagues (they have MLS rights on Apple TV+ but that's a whole different thing). Sponsoring sports leagues just doesn't make sense for Apple in the businesses they are in.
Google is number two. They also don't sponsor any sports brands - not EPL, not the NFL, nothing.
Amazon... weirdly it DOES sponsor the NHL, kind of. Amazon paid for the naming rights to Seattle's arena, though for various reasons it chose to call it Climate Pledge Arena.
Microsoft... now we're getting somewhere. They DO sponsor the NFL and Real Madrid, in order to promote their Surface tablets.
Things start getting murkier as you go down the list. Coca-Cola is not an NHL partner, but their biggest competitor Pepsi is. Tencent or Facebook don't sponsor with any pro sports. I know I've seen Toyota sponsoring my favourite team the Jets. Disney doesn't partner with any pro sports leagues. I'm not sure if McDonalds is actually an NHL sponsor, but they're a huge minor hockey sponsor.
So anyways - maybe you can't just say that if a company doesn't sponsor the NHL it's because companies think the NHL is small potatoes, but rather they all make their own decisions on what makes sense for their own business in their own marketing plan.
NHL jerseys are more expensive just like the sport is more expensive and less accessible. We're talking $150-200 where most other major sports leagues are within the $75-$125 range.
That being said locking in a 10 year deal seems a bit extreme to me. These longterm deals usually end up with one side winning and one side losing so either the NHL or Fanatics will likely come out way ahead of this. It just smells like the NHL playing it safe which is certainly their prerogative but disappointing if you were hoping they would be more aggressive in trying to grow the league and sport.
I don't think it's a great look for the league. Maybe the thinking is Fanatics can bring down the cost and therefore the price to make them more competitive and accessible.
That being said locking in a 10 year deal seems a bit extreme to me. These longterm deals usually end up with one side winning and one side losing so either the NHL or Fanatics will likely come out way ahead of this. It just smells like the NHL playing it safe which is certainly their prerogative but disappointing if you were hoping they would be more aggressive in trying to grow the league and sport.
I don't think it's a great look for the league. Maybe the thinking is Fanatics can bring down the cost and therefore the price to make them more competitive and accessible.
DoyleG
Reality sucks, Princesses!
Well, you don't need to have the business sense to post in this form.
Could see why Coca-Cola didn't keep its Gatorade sponsorship. Pointless to spend money when the players in the league won't use your product.
Adidas didn't think producing jerseys alone was worth the cost. In its traditional sports, it tends to give teams everything (game gear, practice gear, tracksuits, game balls, etc). Add to that all the corporate problems that they have been facing, and it's clear the company is moving towards a reset of its business.
IU Hawks fan
They call me IU
It makes sense when you look at the big picture and understand the business.
The NHL is an investor in Fanatics, all 4 of the Big 4 leagues are. The league wants to see Fanatics grow and be successful, they're the same side.
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Anisimovs AK
Registered User
Couple things here, Google sponsors the McLaren F1 team, and Disney doesnt "sponsor" sports, but they own ESPN and, well you get the pictureI'm sorry - this is a dumb take.
Here's a list of the world's most valuable brands:
List of most valuable brands - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Most valuable brand is Apple on most lists. They don't sponsor the NHL. Is it because they don't value hockey?
Or rather - they don't sponsor any sports leagues (they have MLS rights on Apple TV+ but that's a whole different thing). Sponsoring sports leagues just doesn't make sense for Apple in the businesses they are in.
Google is number two. They also don't sponsor any sports brands - not EPL, not the NFL, nothing.
Amazon... weirdly it DOES sponsor the NHL, kind of. Amazon paid for the naming rights to Seattle's arena, though for various reasons it chose to call it Climate Pledge Arena.
Microsoft... now we're getting somewhere. They DO sponsor the NFL and Real Madrid, in order to promote their Surface tablets.
Things start getting murkier as you go down the list. Coca-Cola is not an NHL partner, but their biggest competitor Pepsi is. Tencent or Facebook don't sponsor with any pro sports. I know I've seen Toyota sponsoring my favourite team the Jets. Disney doesn't partner with any pro sports leagues. I'm not sure if McDonalds is actually an NHL sponsor, but they're a huge minor hockey sponsor.
So anyways - maybe you can't just say that if a company doesn't sponsor the NHL it's because companies think the NHL is small potatoes, but rather they all make their own decisions on what makes sense for their own business in their own marketing plan.
Coca Cola doesnt own Gatorade, Pepsi does
DoyleG
Reality sucks, Princesses!
DoyleG
Reality sucks, Princesses!
Adidas provides more to MLS than they did under the NHL deal.
Game Jerseys
Shoes
Practice Gear
Athletic gear
Gear for officials
Game balls
The Nike deals and the ones UA has made in the NCAA work along the same lines.
IU Hawks fan
They call me IU
Yeah, to truly make it an even comparison, you have to add up all the on-field/ice deals each league has.
NBA/NFL: Nike + Wilson (I think the NFL also gets a fee from other shoe/equipment manufacturers, remember some guy wanting to wear UA years ago but they weren't approved yet)
MLB: Nike (they own Rawlings, so no fee for the ball. I know New Balance is the official umpire shoe, but no idea what kind of money that brings in)
NHL: Adidas + CCM/Bauer/Warrior/True/etc + Inglasco (I'm sure this is minimal, but still)
MLS: Adidas
DoyleG
Reality sucks, Princesses!
To add more context, the story below regarding the LA Lakers deal with BioSteel.
www.cnbc.com
Los Angeles Lakers trade Gatorade for BioSteel to fill team's bench sponsorship
BioSteel will have exposure on the Lakers bench and in-arena signage at Staples Center. Beverage deals with top NBA teams can range up to $5 million per year.
www.cnbc.com
Anisimovs AK
Registered User
DoyleG
Reality sucks, Princesses!
Adidas and Beyoncé to end clothing line deal, reports say
Sportswear giant has been underwhelmed by sales of the singer's Ivy Park line, according to the Wall Street Jourrnal.
www.cbsnews.com
Adidas isn't just dumping the NHL....
Anisimovs AK
Registered User
Its interesting to me all the numbers being thrown around in this thread with no links for verification.
Pretty much only thing to add is they don't do shoes players have their own shoe deals and Officials aren't sponsored by Adidas.
Google keywords and bam pretty simple find...
Yukon Joe
Registered User
Remember though the Apple-MLS deal covers ALL tv rights, not just "national" rights. So it includes both national and regional rights in NHL parlance.
