The University and adidas have entered into a multi-year agreement in which adidas will supply footwear and apparel for all 25 U-M athletic teams. The new agreement begins with the 2008-09 academic year and extends through the 2016-17 season. The agreement is valued at $7.5 million annually in cash and merchandise over the 8-year period.
“We are excited and proud of our new collaboration with adidas,” says Athletic Director Bill Martin. “adidas will outfit our student athletes and teams from head to toe while providing additional resources for our athletic department. The quality of adidas’ product and their dedication to service, on-site and to all of our teams, makes adidas a terrific partner for us.”
Beginning in the fall of 2008, Michigan intercollegiate teams will be outfitted exclusively in adidas footwear, uniforms, training apparel and accessories. Michigan joins a select group of universities that have similar agreements, including Notre Dame, UCLA, Tennessee, Indiana, Nebraska and Wisconsin, among others. adidas also has marketing agreements with the NFL, MLS and an 11-year exclusive all-league partnership with the NBA.
“The partnership between adidas and Michigan brings together two powerful brands that both stand for performance and excellence,” says Martyn Brewer, head of U.S. sports marketing for adidas. “Michigan is a marquee program and we are honored to add a university so rich in tradition to the adidas family of schools.”
Michigan-adidas gear will arrive in stores next summer. Fans in Ann Arbor and across the nation will be able to purchase a wide range of products that include sideline gear, coaches’ polo shirts, hats, jerseys, performance apparel and outerwear. Martin specifically pointed to adidas’ agreement to provide on-site support and a pledge for unique sideline apparel as key factors in the agreement.
“We believe the new partnership is one of the strongest in college sports,” added U-M Athletics Chief Financial Officer Jason Winters. “Funding from the new agreement will provide added resources to our long-term facility renewal plan.”
The contract includes important provisions that reflect the commitment of both the University and adidas to labor and human rights issues. adidas’ Social & Environmental Affairs (SEA) team monitors contract factories for compliance with fair labor and sustainability codes of conduct in order to identify potential problems and implement positive changes. The adidas SEA team provides regular monitoring reports to adidas partner schools.
