Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Nike, Tar Heels agree: 10 years, $31.6 milllion

North Carolina has signed a 10-year deal with Nike to be the exclusive supplier of athletic footwear, apparel and accessory products to the Tar Heels, the school announced.

This marks UNC's fourth contract with Nike, and it is retroactive to July 1, 2008.

“The University of North Carolina is proud of its long-standing relationship with Nike,” UNC athletics director Dick Baddour said in a prepared statement. “This partnership has
benefitted all 28 varsity sports and provided millions of dollars for academics and student scholarships at the University.”

In addition to apparel and equipment — the value of which ranges from $2.8 million in the first year of the contract, to $3.4 million in the 10th, for a total of $31.6 million — Nike will give the University $2 million to the Chancellor’s Academic Enhancement Fund. Chancellor Holden Thorp says he will direct the funds to faculty support, according to the news release. The athletics department will also receive $1 million for signing the contract; those funds are being used to overhaul lighting and sound at the Smith Center.

Nike has also entered into individual contracts with each of UNC’s head coaches; only seven coaches had individual contracts with the company in the past.

UNC and Nike also affirmed their commitment to fair labor practices, which they adopted in the 2001 agreement — meaning Nike will continue to produce licensed products and
provide product to the University made in factories that provide fair working conditions and operate consistent with the labor standards in the University's license agreements and Nike's own Code of Conduct.

-- Robbi Pickeral

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

A complete win-win for everyone. The Fair Labor Practices portion is great icing on a super deal. I think what was NOT mentioned is the number and location of cream-of-the-crop tickets for assorted UNC that fall Nike's way as part of the deal ...

Nike, Michael 'Air' Jordan and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Talk about nepotism! Any wonder, then, that the Bobcats also wear Nike?

MichaelProcton said...

Umm, no they don't. The NBA's official apparel provider is Reebok.

Anonymous said...

"The University of North Carolina is proud of its long-standing relationship with Nike."

Can't wait to see UNC-Asheville and UNC-Pembroke decked out in new Nike gear!!

Anonymous said...

actually the NBA's official sponsor is Addidas, but if MJ takes majority ownership and is smart in marketing bobcats gear he'll start stamping the lil "jumpman" logo on everything and send slaes through the roof.

Anonymous said...

Oh no, this is the free market and capitalism at work. I'm sure this is going to p*ss of the genius liberal professors at this fine brain washing institution.

Anonymous said...

Reebok was the official apparel then Adidas bought Reebok, so you both are kinda right.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, and college sports are not about money.

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear that all UNC campuses will be getting Nike money, not just UNC CH.

Anonymous said...

We're UNC. First, now and always. Deal with it. The rest of you should be the University of Pembroke or whatever.

Anonymous said...

Were it not for us, there'd be no hyphen for you to cling to. Now be quiet. You're disturbing my count of the $30+ million.

MichaelProcton said...

Doesn't matter who the owner is. The NBA will not allow a team to produce apparel through another company.