SGB Update Sports & Fitness
MLB Uniforms To Add Advertising Beginning In The 2023 Season
Major League Baseball (MLB) players’ uniform sleeves will sport corporate-sponsored patches beginning next season for the first time in the game’s 146-year professional history. The league confirmed that decals on batting helmets could come as early as this postseason.
Industry Veteran Joins Putterman Athletics
Putterman Athletics announced it hired Randy Futty in the newly created position as executive vice president, business development. Futty is past chairman of the USTA National Technical Committee and has served on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the American Sports Builders Association in several past years.
EMPWR Acquires Noble Foods
EMPWR Nutrition Group, the Belgium-based manufacturer of protein bars, has acquired Noble Foods, a Quebec-based nutritional bar manufacturer with two production sites in Montreal and Oregon.
Nike To Pay $5 Million To Lontex Attorneys In Trademark Suit
Nike Inc. will have to pay $4.99 million to cover the attorneys’ fees and expenses that Lontex Corp. incurred in litigating to trial in an infringement case over Lontex’s “cool compression” trademark.
Ontario’s Garb and Gear Source for Sports Closing
Garb and Gear Source for Sports in Owen Sound in Southwestern Ontario is closing as its owners, Brian and Janice Warrilow, are retiring.
Fanatics Partners With Minnesota Vikings
Fanatics announced an exclusive, ten-year omnichannel merchandise and retail partnership with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings. As a part of the deal, Fanatics assumes the operation of its e-commerce, mobile and physical retail stores.
HighPost Capital Acquires Chris Hemsworth’s Centr and Inspire Fitness
HighPost Capital, a private investment firm announced the acquisitions of Centr, a personalized digital health and fitness platform curated by actor Chris Hemsworth, and Inspire Fitness, a maker of fitness equipment. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Revo Expands Golf Division To Include Racquet Sports
Revo has expanded its Golf division to include racquet sports and hired six additional tennis reps in response to industry growth in the golf, tennis and pickleball categories.
Kohl’s Sends Letter To Shareholders Highlighting Board Leadership And Robust Process
Kohl’s Corporation on Thursday mailed a letter to shareholders detailing the steps the Board has taken to maximize shareholder value ahead of its May 11 annual meeting. The steps include a robust and intentional process to evaluate potential bids. Kohl’s said the letter also summarizes activist invesor Macellum’s “shifting narrative and short-term focus on a sale of the company at any price.”
Golftec Opens Location In Phoenix
Golftec opened a new instruction and club fitting center in Phoenix, AZ.
Fanatics Plans New Distribution Operations In Maryland
Fanatics is opening a new 500,000-square-foot distribution center in Aberdeen, MD. The East Coast location creates 135 full-time jobs, enhances its existing distribution capabilities with access to overnight delivery to one-third of its U.S. customer base, and is convenient to the Port of Baltimore and BWI airport to ship globally.
Decathlon Suspends Operations In Russia Over Public Outcry
Decathlon, the largest global sporting goods chain based in France, said it is suspending activities in Russia due to challenges securing supplies. The retailer had faced criticism for remaining open during the war Russia continues to wage against Ukraine.
Vuori Announces International Launch
Southern California-inspired activewear brand Vuori launched in the UK, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Australia, and Canada, marking the company’s global rollout announced late last year.
F45 Training Appoints Chief Marketing Officer
F45 Training Holdings, Inc. announced it hired Brian Killingsworth as chief marketing officer, reporting to Adam Gilchrist, president, CEO and chairman.
Hibbett Promotes Supply Chain And Merchandising Veterans
Hibbett, Inc. has promoted Mike McAbee and Stephani Smith to SVP, supply chain and store development and SVP, merchandising, respectively.
