Under Armour Attempting To End 15-Year, $280 Million Contract With UCLA Bruins Early
Jun 27, 2020, 3:43 PM | Updated: 3:43 pm
UCLA (7) Darren Andrews (WR) runs the ball during a college football game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the UCLA Bruins on September 03, 2017 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Apparel company Under Armour is attempting to get out of its 15-year, $280 million contract with the UCLA Bruins early.
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The company announced the decision to break its agreement with UCLA on Saturday, June 27.
UCLA is one of 22 college programs sponsored by Under Armour. Fellow Pac-12 schools, Utah and California also have deals with the apparel company.
“Under Armour has recently made the difficult decision to discontinue our partnership with UCLA, as we have been paying for marketing benefits that we have not received for an extended time period,” Under Armour said in a statement. “The agreement allows us to terminate in such an event and we are exercising that right.”
Here’s @UnderArmour’s statement on why it is terminating its partnership with #UCLA. pic.twitter.com/f1DvSZUu2M
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) June 27, 2020
The Bruins and Under Armour first reached an agreement on the $280 million deal in May 2016. UCLA reportedly fielded offers from Adidas and Nike. The 15-year contract took effect in July 2017.
“UCLA Athletics learned this week that Under Armour is attempting to terminate its 15-year apparel and footwear contract with us and the Bruin community,” UCLA said in a statement. “We are exploring all our options to resist Under Armour’s actions. We remain committed to providing our hard-working staff and student-athletes with the footwear, apparel and equipment needed to train and compete at the highest level, as they — and our loyal Bruin fans — deserve.”
The termination of the Under Armour deal obviously would be a huge blow to a UCLA athletic department already facing a massive budget deficit.
— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) June 27, 2020
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According to Forbes, the deal was the largest apparel contract in college sports as of September 2019.
Prior to its agreement with Under Armour, the Bruins sported gear from Adidas.
UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero is scheduled to retire on July 1. Former Boston College AD Martin Jarmond is set to take over the Bruins’ athletic department.
