If Don LaFontaine (the voice behind the announcements during movie trailers) could edit the teaser trailers of Tennessee switching to Nike, he’d say, “coming a Tennessee Volunteer apparel shop near you on July, 1, 2015.”
In what seems to be a campaign eerily identical to what Jurassic World did with the revealing of the Indominus Rex, both trailers accentuate an ominous transfer of equipment providers from Adidas to Nike.
Tennessee athletics have also taken it to Twitter about their new partner-in-crime by posting a mock-up from Game of Thrones:
https://twitter.com/Vol_Football/status/615697334094168064/photo/1
In partnership since 1997, Adidas and Tennessee have gone through success with the helpings of the women’s basketball team (3 national championships w/Adidas) and the Tennessee football team (1998 national championship w/Adidas).
Over the course of the new multi-year deal, Nike will pay the university $1 million for the first four years, followed by payments of $900,000 that lead up to the expiration in 2023.
Where Nike lacks in allocations to the school itself for facility upgrades, the Oregon-based firm fills the void with royalties and complimentary product tosses. For example, on a per-year-basis, Adidas supplies colleges with a smudge over $1 million (+9% royalties); whereas Nike will cushion Tennessee with over $3 million (+13% royalties) in Nike exclusives.
Whether displeased with loosening grip on Adidas or eager to start anew with Nike, the University of Tennessee promises a smooth transition.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
