Major League Baseball has inked new five-year licensing agreements for the global rights to produce official Major League Baseball adult apparel and headwear. The combined value of the agreements guarantees Major League Baseball and the Clubs more than $500 million over the course of the five years.
Key partners and components of the five-year global licensing program include:
Majestic Athletic, Ltd. will become the exclusive MLB Authentic Collection(TM) supplier of on-field game uniforms, batting practice jerseys, outerwear, T-shirts, fleece and turtlenecks to all 30 MLB Clubs as well as the domestic and international retail markets.
New Era Cap Company, Inc. will remain the exclusive MLB Authentic Collection(TM) supplier of headwear to all 30 Major League Baseball Clubs as well as the domestic and international retail markets. New Era also maintains its rights as the exclusive supplier of MLB Authentic Collection(TM) celebratory headwear for the winners of the LCS and World Series.
Nike USA, Inc. will become the exclusive MLB Authentic Collection(TM) supplier of performance apparel and casual wear to all 30 Major League Baseball Clubs as well as the domestic and international retail markets.
Twins Enterprises, Inc. will become the exclusive supplier of non-authentic headwear to the domestic mass market. Twins also maintains rights to produce MLB Authentic Collection(TM) celebratory headwear for the wild card and division winning teams.
VF Imagewear Inc. will become the exclusive supplier of non-authentic fleece and T-shirts for the U.S. mass market, as well as Canada and Latin America. VF will have global rights to produce the official celebratory T-shirts and fleece worn by teams participating in postseason play.
Dynasty Apparel Industries Inc. will become the exclusive supplier of non-authentic jerseys for the domestic mass market and Latin America.
Drew Pearson International Inc. will maintain rights to produce and distribute non-authentic headwear throughout Europe.
In addition to royalties, the deals include marketing commitments with Major League Baseball Clubs, commitments toward marketing and media expenditures to promote the Major League Baseball and 30 Club brands and supplying the Major League Baseball Clubs with product.
“This new licensing program is the result of a lengthy and arduous process in which many of the world's best apparel and headwear companies expressed a desire to work with Major League Baseball,” said Selig. “The companies we selected will, over the term of the agreements, provide Major League Baseball, the Clubs and our fans with the best possible combination of products and service. We are thrilled that this process has resulted in new long-term agreements with business partners who have demonstrated a commitment to the continued growth of Major League Baseball.”
“These agreements represent an expansion of our existing licensing model, which has successfully combined the service, dedication and marketing prowess of 'baseball centric' companies and major global brands,” said Tim Brosnan, Executive Vice President, Business, Major League Baseball. “These agreements enable Major League Baseball to guarantee the Clubs and our retail partners the same high level of service that they have come to expect from our licensing partners.”
