Rawlings Sporting Goods Company Inc., a subsidiary of Newell Brands (NYSE: NWL), renewed its exclusive status with the NCAA as the Official Baseball of NCAA championships for the 2017 through 2021 seasons.
In addition to the baseball being used on-field during NCAA championship play, the five-year agreement grants exclusive rights to Rawlings to promote, market and sell the NCAA championship baseball through its retail channels.
“To maintain our level of on-field authenticity as a brand, we must continue to partner with premier organizations such as the NCAA that share our vision of excelling in the game at the collegiate level,” said Mike Thompson, executive vice president of marketing at Rawlings. “We’ve spent several years building a strategic alliance with the NCAA and believe that doing so further establishes our dedication to providing student-athletes with quality baseball products.”
“We’re proud to continue our longstanding relationship with Rawlings and consider them to be a leading company and brand in the sports industry,” said Keith Martin, managing director of championships and alliances for the NCAA. “Providing student-athletes with top quality products contributes to their well-being and enhances their overall collegiate experience when they reach the championships, which is the pinnacle of their years of hard work.”
The renewal affirms Rawlings’ status as the longstanding official baseball of both the NCAA and Major League Baseball.
