Sports apparel company Under Armour announced over the weekend that it is exercising its right to terminate the record-breaking contract the company established with UCLA because the company has been paying for marketing benefits that it hasn’t received “for an extended time period.”
As reported by CBS Los Angeles, the news comes as college athletics nationwide have been shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Under Armour and UCLA entered into their record-setting 15-year, $280 million contract in May 2016. As part of the deal, Under Armour designs and supplies sports apparel for all of UCLA’s 25 varsity athletic teams, replacing the school’s previous deal with Adidas.
UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero, whose previously announced retirement takes effect Wednesday, said the school is pushing back on attempts to end the contract.
“UCLA Athletics learned this week that Under Armour is attempting to terminate its 15-year apparel and footwear contract with us and the Bruin community. We are exploring all our options to resist Under Armour’s actions,” said Guerrero, who's been at UCLA since 2002. “We remain committed to providing our hard-working staff and student-athletes with the footwear, apparel and equipment needed to train and compete at the highest level, as they — and our loyal Bruin fans — deserve.”
