Fanatics already has strong ties to the National Hockey League (NHL) and will be the new manufacturer of official jerseys worn by players and officials at Bettman Circuit in 2024-2025, which will prove profitable for a Monteregie factory.
• Also read: Beach hotel, palm trees, pools: Gamers tend to slack off in Florida
• Also read: The irresistible thrust of the wild
As the ESPN network reported on Monday, the NHL signed a 10-year deal with the company, which has been one of its commercial partners for nearly two decades. In fact, since 2017, Fanatics has been the manufacturer of special edition vests marketed to fans. The league had to find a solution after Adidas decided not to go ahead with their unification, which was due to end in 2023-24.
However, the SP Apparel factory in Saint-Hyacinthe will make the jerseys like it did for Adidas, NHL vice president of marketing Brian Jennings said. The latter stated that the specifics of the products will be identical and that despite the differences in the range of materials, the whole thing will be “almost impossible to distinguish”.
“The expansion of our relationship with Fanatics reflects our shared commitment to innovation, performance and service to our players and fans,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. They are leaders in the sports industry and their track record in e-commerce and retail proves it. Fanatics will offer the best uniforms in all of the sport.”
Big thing?
Additionally, the value of the contract tying the NHL to Fanatics has not been disclosed. ESPN said last year that the pact, which will link Adidas to the league beginning in 2017, represents an annual commitment of at least $70 million for the company in question. The future supplier of NHL jerseys has been responsible for preparing Nike uniforms for Major League Baseball since 2017 after the acquisition of Majestic. It also produces Nike jerseys for the NFL, which are sold online and in stores.
“I understand there may be some nervousness at first, but I have great confidence in the Fanatics team,” said Jennings. I look at our history with our equipment and what they’ve achieved in other leagues and I think they’ll do the same here.
-Vêtements SP said in 2022 that it had invested $20 million to acquire its Saint-Hyacinthe factory. “After two turbulent years, we are emerging stronger from this period. Our collaboration with Nike at the 2022 Winter Olympics and the launch of the new NHL jerseys – made with Adidas from recycled material – have been crowned with success, the time has come to tackle important strategic projects for our future,” said the Owner and CEO, Steve Bérard, in a press release.