Nike and the National Football League made it official Tuesday morning, announcing that Nike has been granted the rights to design and manufacturer the NFL's on-field apparel. The league's prior ten-year deal with Reebok will expire following the 2011 season.
Representatives from the NFL said the league will split apparel liceses among seven different companies, including Nike, New Era, Under Armour and G-III.
Financial terms of the NFL's deal with Nike and other apparel makers weren't disclosed, but Matt Powell, Chief Retail Analyst at SportsOneSource, estimates the league's new deals could be valued at around $1 billion. Adidas CEO Herbert Hainer had already told CNBC that he was prepared to accept defeat.
“We decided how much we were willing to pay,” Hainer said. “If somebody bids higher than us then weâ€ll accept that… So if we lose the NFL, it wonâ€t make or break our company.”