BBL announce SIX-FIGURE apparel deal with Spalding for five years
It has been confirmed this afternoon that the British Basketball League’s deal with Spalding for apparel amounts to a SIX-FIGURE investment per year for the BBL over the next five years.
It will come in to effect at the beginning of the 2013-2014 season and will see all BBL teams play in the Spalding uniforms, and for fans up and down the country, it will also mean they will be able to get their hands on high quality replica apparel.
Paul Blake, chairman of the BBL, who is also celebrating how this year’s BBL Play-Off Final is a sell-out at 8,500 for Wembley Arena on Sunday, highlighted the significance of the agreement: “This kind of extensive deal with an established company like Spalding is just the latest in a long line of exciting developments for BBL and one more reason to be satisfied that we continue to move in the right direction – and with real purpose.
“With like for like ticket sales across the league now up by around 20% on last season and set against the backdrop of that fantastic turnout of 7,500 at the BBL Cup Final a couple of months ago, it perpetuates the momentum we now have behind us and continues the upward trend of sustainable growth as a league.”
He followed on to say: “Having all of our member clubs playing in Spalding apparel will re-enforce that professional edge and visually exude the uniformity and collective desire of the clubs and the league to continue developing and enhancing our product for fans.”
BBL Commercial Director, David Leyden Dunbar, confirmed and helped secure the deal in his recently appointed role, spoke of the positive influence a company such as Spalding, with its years of experience, will have: “For over 130 years, Spalding has been a leader in innovation and quality, a brand synonymous with basketball.
“We are thrilled to be entering into this long term partnership with a global brand who have clearly demonstrated their commitment to the league and share our plans for the future.
“Since taking up the post during October of last year, my intention has always been to significantly alter the commercial landscape of the BBL and I’m pleased to confirm that our new partnership with Spalding is just the first in a series of announcements that we’ll be making as momentum builds towards the start of the new season in September.”
Paul Sherratt, Spalding Country Manager for UK & Ireland, also heralded the deal welcoming the BBL into the Spalding family: “We are delighted in announcing another step towards increased brand penetration within the UK basketball marketplace for Spalding and for the BBL to join our extensive roster of leagues and teams around Europe wearing our apparel”.
Leyden Dunbar also confirmed that Molten will continue going forward as the official provider of match balls.
(Image: BBL)
