Under Armour Inc (UAA)

[JohnCM]

Under Armour to make MLB uniforms in 2019, a year early

May 19, 2017 ESPN.com news services

NEW YORK -- Under Armour and Fanatics will take over for Majestic and Nike as the official uniform partners for Major League Baseball in 2019, a year earlier than previously scheduled.

Under Armour, Fanatics' uniform deal announced

The on-field deal between MLB, Under Armour and Fanatics is scheduled to begin in 2020 and run for 10 years, but sources say it could start before that should Majestic decide to bow out early.

Under the terms of the deal, Under Armour will make all on-field apparel, including jerseys and game-day and training outerwear, that is currently made by Majestic, and base-layer gear that is made by Nike.

Fanatics, the largest sports retailer, will make the merchandise that will be sold to fans, serving as both the producer and the seller.

Fanatics Inc. and MLB announced an agreement in December that gave the company licensing rights to manufacture and distribute merchandise starting in 2020. Fanatics signed a deal last month to buy VF Corp.'s Licensed Sports Group and with it the 600-worker Majestic Athletic plant in Easton, Pennsylvania, where team jerseys and fan apparel are manufactured.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday that fan merchandise from Under Armour will be available next year and that Under Armour will be worn for dugout clothing during the 2018 postseason. The full switch to Under Armour for on-field apparel will take place for the 2019 season.

Majestic has manufactured MLB batting practice jerseys since 1982 and has been the exclusive supplier of game uniforms since 2005. Before that, uniforms were manufactured by both Majestic and Russell.