On Friday, the NBA announced that the board of governors approved a three-year pilot program that allows teams to sell corporate logos on their jerseys.
This will make the NBA the first major U.S. sports league to put advertisements on regular game-day jerseys.
While the 2017-2018 season will be the first year for the program, teams may now start pitching to companies in regards to buying ad space on jerseys. This will also be the first season that Nike makes the uniforms. The Nike swoosh will also be on every jersey.
Discussions to start putting ads on team jerseys first started in 2009. Commissioner Adam Silver led the project.
“It’s manifest destiny. So let’s begin by saying this isn’t going to affect the competition. What we’re talking about is a patch on the jersey. And one of the reasons we want to do it is that it creates an additional investment in those companies in the league … the amplification we get from those sponsors, those marketing partners of the league, who want to attach to our teams and our players.But once they put their name on the jerseys, they’ll then use their media to promote the NBA extensively. That’s probably the greatest reason for us to do it,” said Silver to ESPN’s Rachel Nichols.
Teams are also hoping that by advertising the logos they will generate extra income which will be split amongst players.
Do you think this is a good move for the NBA?
Source: ESPN
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