South Carolina not expecting disruption in Under Armour contract
Under Armour is in reported legal and financial showdowns with two of its collegiate apparel partners on the West Coast.
That is not expected to be the case at the University of South Carolina.
In a statement, South Carolina Athletics Director Ray Tanner said: “Recently, I reached out to our representative from Under Armour to discuss our current contractual agreement. The University of South Carolina has enjoyed a tremendous relationship with Under Armour since the original agreement in 2007 and I anticipate this partnership to continue for many years to come.”
The Gamecocks signed a 10-year deal with Under Armour worth $71.5 million in February of 2016. At the time it was the second-most valuable in the SEC and seventh-most valuable in the country.
Under Armour is trying to terminate its 15-year, industry-record $280 million deal with UCLA, the Los Angeles Times reported over the weekend. The company’s deal with the University of California is also in jeopardy, according to multiple reports.
“Both the athletic wear brand and university athletic department face financial problems exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Forbes reported about the Baltimore-based company and its brewing battle with UCLA.
At the time that South Carolina renewed its contract with Under Armour, the company’s 10-year, $90 million deal with Notre Dame was the most valuable in the country.
“Under Armour way overpaid UCLA, now looking for escape. Hearing the same thing at Cal, another head-scratching UA deal,” Sports Business Journal reporter Michael Smith said via Twitter.
South Carolina and Auburn are the only SEC schools that have apparel deals with Under Armour. Coastal Carolina University — in Conway, SC — also is an Under Amour school.
The Gamecocks’ current deal runs through 2026 and includes $24.5 million in rights fees and $44.5 million in product allowance, plus a $2 million signing bonus.
“The University of South Carolina has been one of our landmark partnerships within the NCAA and SEC,” an Under Armour spokesman said in 2016. “The Gamecocks are a key part of our brand story and we look forward to continuing that story together as we provide world-class, innovative product to their student athletes and the entire Gamecock community.”
This story was originally published June 29, 2020 at 12:05 PM.
