Major League Baseball has reportedly reached an agreement with Under Armour for the apparel company to be the league’s exclusive uniform provider beginning in 2020, according to Terry Lefton of SportsBusiness Daily. ESPN.com’s Darren Rovell confirmed the report.
As part of the deal, Fanatics will be the official retailer of MLB jerseys. Fanatics will also provide on-field apparel for players.
This is the first time Under Armour has held exclusive uniform rights for a major American sports league. The company is the apparel provider for various colleges, including the Maryland Terrapins, Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Auburn Tigers. Rovell noted Under Armour produces workout apparel for the NFL Scouting Combine as well.
A number of top athletes have deals with Under Armour, including Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper and Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw.
Under Armour’s contract with MLB is a sign of its growth and desire to continue building its profile in the United States. The company made a push last summer to be the NBA’s uniform provider starting in 2017-18 but lost out to Nike.
With Under Armour taking over for Majestic Athletic, which has produced MLB uniforms since 2005, many will wonder if players’ duds will get a new look.
When Nike replaced Reebok as the NFL’s apparel provider in 2012, it declined to make significant alterations to most uniforms, with the exception of the Seattle Seahawks’.
Over the years, though, Under Armour has gained attention for its unique designs and could opt for a similar strategy with MLB.
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