Feb. 20, 2012
SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State University's athletic teams will soon have a consistent look when it comes to uniforms, shoes and apparel. The MSU Board of Governors approved a five-year deal on Friday (Feb. 17) between the University and adidas, to outfit all of MSU's intercollegiate programs in adidas apparel and footwear.
The agreement, which will provide the University with significant savings, takes effect on June 1 and runs through May 31, 2017. MSU's spirit squads and 16 intercollegiate programs, with the exception of men's basketball, will begin the apparel and footwear transition at the end of the current semester. The men's basketball program will transition to adidas in the fall of 2014 when its current agreement with Nike expires.
Prior to the agreement, each MSU program negotiated its own shoe and apparel deal, including several teams that were already with adidas. However, MSU Director of Athletics Kyle Moats said having a consistent presentation is a benefit for the entire department.
"In addition to obvious financial savings for our department, it was important to me to have all of our sports supported by one company," Moats said. "It will also be a benefit for us in recruiting and in merchandise sales. I'm especially happy for our coaches and student-athletes."
Moats explained that over the next five years, the agreement will save the University around $200,000. Missouri State has spent an average of $202,000 each of the last three years outfitting its teams. The adidas deal has a minimum annual buy-in for the University of $125,000, but adidas will provide in-kind contributions of $90,000 annually, in addition to a $75,000 annual in-kind contribution from former Bears baseball standout Ryan Howard to be used by the MSU baseball program.
Currently an all-star first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies, Howard is contracted by adidas and was instrumental in getting Missouri State connected with his exclusive equipment provider.
"This has been an priority of my since I arrived, and we have been working on this for two years," Moats explained. "I personally want to thank Ryan Howard, (MSU interim president) Clif Smart, the Board of Governors and Derek Stucker from adidas for their help in making this patnership a reality."
The agreement with adidas marks the first time all of MSU's programs have been included in a single, all-encompassing apparel agreement. The utilization of a single vendor for all programs is expected to ensure consistency in image branding, particularly uniform and apparel colors and design elements, throughout the athletics department. The contract also addresses budgetary concerns, allowing the department to control cost growth by saving 50 percent off retail prices on apparel and 45 percent on shoes.
"Our new partnership with Missouri State allows us to bring the best in adidas performance footwear and apparel to their student-athletes, including the lightest football cleat in the game, the adizero 5-Star and the revolutionary TechFit compression uniform," said adidas director of team sports Mark Daniels. "We look forward to a long relationship with the University and are excited to see the Bears and their fans wear three stripes next season."
About adidas
adidas designs and develops a broad range of athletic and fashion footwear, apparel and accessories with the mission to be the leading sports brand in the world. Brand adidas is part of the adidas Group that includes adidas, Reebok, TaylorMade and Rockport.
