BC in talks with Under Armour
Has deal with struggling company through 2023-24 season
Boston College is currently in “discussions” concerning its future business arrangements with struggling sports apparel manufacturer Under Armour.
BC has an apparel and footwear supply contract with Under Armour that runs through the 2023-24 athletic season.
“We have been in discussions with Under Armour regarding our current agreement to supply our athletics department with apparel and footwear,” said BC interim athletic director JM Caparro, who will be replaced by Patrick Kraft on July 1.
“We will continue those conversations with the primary focus on doing whatever is best for our student-athletes and athletics department here at Boston College.”
The Baltimore-based conglomerate’s shrinking financial situation, brought on by the global COVID-19 pandemic, became news last week in California.
Under Armour informed UCLA that it wants to terminate the $280 million, 15year deal, it signed with the school in 2016. Under Armour was trading at $9.61 per share on Tuesday, margins below its 12-month high of $27.72.
Outgoing UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero said the school intends to “resist” Under Armour’s tender, but the fight will be carried on by Martin Jarmond, who took the seat on June 15. Jarmond left BC for UCLA on May 19 after three seasons.
“We are exploring all of our options to resist Under Armour’s actions and will share more information when we can,” Guerrero told the L.A. Times.
“We want to reassure you that UCLA Athletics remains committed to providing our hard-working staff and student athletes with the footwear, apparel and equipment needed to compete at the highest level.”
Athletic Director Gene DeFilippo (1997-2012) initiated BC’s business agreements with Under Armour in December 2009. The deal was for six years and went into effect in July 2010. Brad Bates was the AD when Under
Armour and BC agreed to a 10-year partnership extension on March 12, 2015.
“This is an unprecedented agreement for Boston College athletics,” Bates said on the day of the extension. “The UA brand has become synonymous with innovation, excellence and excitement.”
Jarmond put his stamp on the existing agreement when he joined forces with Under Armour to produce the Martin Jarmond Collection of BC apparel. The Jarmond Collection was not a side deal with Under Armour. The Jarmond Collection was just the preferred UA merchandise he selected for his wardrobe.
Kraft will take over discussions with Under Armour and may explore the same options available to UCLA. If a suitable agreement can’t be reached, he may seek out other major suppliers like Nike and Adidas.
That could be a hard turnaround with football training camp possibly opening in early August. BC is scheduled to open its football season with an ACC encounter against Syracuse on Friday, Sept. 4, at Alumni Stadium.