WESTWOOD—Under Armour Inc. has secured a 15-year apparel contract with UCLA. Last year, Nike signed Ohio State to a 15-year deal worth $252 million, University of Texas to a 15-year deal worth $250 million, and Michigan to an 11-year deal worth $169 million. Guerrero, UCLA athletic director told the Los Angeles Times, “We knew that we were well-positioned to cut a deal, Under Armour came at us hard.”
“This deal was about geography,” said Kevin Plank, who founded Under Armour in 1996. “It was important for us to plant our flag in LA.”
Under Armour will replace Adidas as the school’s apparel sponsor. Adidas was the school’s apparel sponsor for nearly 20 years. Under Armour sent out the following tweet: “From Baltimore to LA…Welcome to the family, @UCLAAthletic. #TeamUA” The tweet also revealed the new apparel line will launch July 1, 2017. UCLA’s varsity programs, its band and spirit dancers will wear Under Armour branded apparel and footwear. Former UCLA athlete and current NFL player for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Myles Jack got in on the celebration on Twitter. Jack tweeted, “@UCLA welcome to the @UnderArmour fam #MakeHistory #TeamUA.”
According to the LA Times, the apparel company will be supplying $7.4 million worth of clothing, shoes and equipment each school year. They will also contribute an additional $2 million over the next eight years. The additional funds will be used for upgrades on buildings like the Morgan Center and the Acosta Athletic Complex.
In April, the apparel company also secured a 10-year deal with the University of California-Berkeley which is reportedly worth $86 million. UCLA Bruins Quarterback Josh Rosen commented on the deal on his Instagram in a now deleted post. The deleted caption stated: “We’re still amateurs though…Gotta love non-profits #NCAA.”
