The athletics department of the University of Washington has agreed a deal for German sportswear manufacturer Adidas to become the new official footwear and apparel partner of its Huskies sports teams.
The 10-year agreement will come into effect on July 1, 2019. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but the Seattle Times newspaper said the agreement would be worth $119m (€96m). The deal is contingent upon approval from the UW Board of Regents.
Adidas will replace US sportswear manufacturer Nike as the college’s apparel partner. Nike has been a partner of the university for 20 years. According to the Times, Nike’s deal is worth $3.5m a year – significantly less than the Adidas agreement.
The Times, citing a source familiar with the deal, reported that Adidas will pay the Huskies annual fees of $5.275m in cash, $5.58m in product and $1.1m for marketing. The deal, which will also include bonuses based on performance, will rank among the 10 most lucrative in US college sport.
UW director of athletics, Jennifer Cohen, said: “We believe this partnership will allow us to provide a new competitive edge to our coaches, student-athletes and our incredible fan base. As we researched Adidas' college partnerships, we were extremely impressed with their product innovation, global brand significance, and most of all the depth of service and attention they provide to their partner schools.
“After meeting with their leadership team, it was clear that Adidas understands what makes Washington special and I believe their passion for this partnership will resonate deeply with all who call themselves Huskies.”
Adidas is already the official uniform, footwear and apparel provider for more than 100 collegiate programs including Arizona State, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kansas, Louisville, Miami, Mississippi State, Nebraska, North Carolina State and Texas A&M.