Adidas Speedfactory to Begin Large-Scale Production in 2017
Adidas announced that it would resume production of shoes in Germany more than 20 years after it stopped making them in its home country. Its new “Speedfactory” will use robots, as opposed to the manual process the company employs in its manufacturing hubs in Asia.
GoPro and Red Bull Form Exclusive Global Partnership
GoPro and Red Bull formed a multi-year, global partnership that includes content production, distribution, cross-promotion and product innovation.
Sports Authority’s GOB Sales Start Thursday
Liquidators will begin going-out-of-business (GOB) sales Thursday at the remaining 321 Sports Authority stores not already being liquidated.
Varsity Brands Honors High School Leaders
Varsity Brands, the parent of Herff Jones, BSN Sports and Varsity Spirit, hosted its inaugural Varsity Brands School Spirit Awards in Orlando, FL on April 30 to recognize standout educators, teaches, coaches and students.
SFIA Releases Snapshot of Brands Comitted to 2016 Leadership Summit
The SFIA issued a snapshot of the active lifestyle brands already committed to attend its 2016 SFIA Industry Leaders Summit, set to be held September in Denver, CO.
PickUp USA Fitness Opens Franchise Program
PickUp USA Fitness, based in Irwindale, CA, announced the long-awaited arrival of its franchise program.
Concourse Sports Acquires Team Express
Concourse Holdings LLC, which owns RedsGear.com, KnifeHog.com and SoftballFans.com, has completed its acquisition of San Antonio-based sports retailer Team Express Distributing, LLC, the owner of Baseball Express, Softball.com and Football America.
Under Armour Signs $280 Million Deal With UCLA
Under Armour has signed a 15-year, $280-million contract with UCLA in what’s believed to be the largest shoe and apparel deal in NCAA history. UCLA’s contract with Adidas expires next year.
Study: Fitness Trackers May Not Inspire Fitness
Motivating consumers to engage in fitness activities may have little to do with buying a wearable or tracker, as researchers at Clarkson University released a study on May 23, 2016 showing students did not take more steps after being told their fitness would be recorded, versus days in which they did not believe their steps were being tracked.
TopGolf Entertainment Acquires Protracer to Build Media, Boost Engagement
Topgolf Entertainment Group (TEG) has acquired Protracer, the company that pioneered technology to track the flight of a golf ball, display its path in video and analyze shots hit.
Breg Hires Sports Medicine Talent as VP of Operations
Breg, Inc., a provider of sports medicine products and services, hired Benjamin Hutson has vice president of operations.
ElliptiGO’s Meb Keflezighi Presents to Sports Medicine Industry
ElliptiGO Inc. signed on for a title sponsorship of a presentation on the benefits of cross-training, given by 2016 United States Olympian Meb Keflezighi at the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) 63rd Annual Meeting.
PHIT America Sees Sharp Declines in Frequent Participants
While the number of physically inactive Americans actually declined from 83 million people in 2014 down to 81.7 million in 2015, the underlying numbers on physical inactivity in the U.S. paint a grave picture according to research just released by the Physical Activity Council (PAC).
International Trade Commission Set to Move on Miscellaneous Tariff Bill
President Obama signed legislation to change the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) process and avoid potential issues with the Congressional ban on earmarks. Under this new process, the International Trade Commission (ITC) will accept petitions for tariff relief, review them and make recommendations to Congress.
RAM Racing Acquires Gault Race Management
RAM Racing acquired Gault Race Management in a recent move that not only tripled its capacity to time participants, according to Steve Ginsburg, RAM’s CEO, but also created the largest timing business in the United States.
