LOS ANGELES, May 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The
University of California, Los Angeles
and Under Armour® (NYSE: UA) today announced
a new, 15-year performance footwear and apparel agreement. Under
Armour Founder and CEO Kevin Plank
joined UCLA Director of Athletics Dan
Guerrero to introduce the partnership between one of the
world's most recognizable collegiate athletic programs and the
global leader in innovative performance products.
As part of the partnership, Under Armour will exclusively design
and supply the footwear, apparel and equipment for training and
game-day uniforms for all 25 of the university's men's and women's
varsity athletic teams. The long-term agreement between the
university and brand, which commences July
1, 2017, is the largest apparel deal in the history of the
NCAA, reaffirming UCLA's status as a
world-class institution and Under Armour's position as a global
leader committed to collegiate athletics.
"UCLA has always been about
challenging the status quo and breaking through barriers," said
UCLA Director of Athletics, Dan
Guerrero. "Under Armour shares those core
values. They are about more than simply making athletes look
good, they constantly pursue innovation in order to make athletes
better. At UCLA, making
student-athletes better – athletically, academically and most of
all, personally – is everything to us. By valuing
student-athlete success as a journey, not a destination, we have
been able to win more NCAA Championships than any other
institution. Because Under Armour not only understands this,
but embraces it, we are excited to embark upon this new journey
together."
"With 113 NCAA Championships, UCLA
is the most decorated athletic program in history, the benchmark
for excellence in performance," said Kevin
Plank, Founder and CEO, Under Armour. "Under Armour's
commitment to growth through innovation and an unwavering mission
to make all athletes better aligns seamlessly with UCLA and the pioneering figures that helped build
the program, and we look forward to reaching new heights with the
Bruins."
Strengthening its global brand impression, aligning with
UCLA's significant international
student pool and impressive roster of athletes from all over the
world, Under Armour will continue to expand its West Coast
footprint with a commitment to open new retail locations in the
greater Los Angeles area -
including on LA's Westside - and offer annual internship
opportunities at the brand's Baltimore-based global headquarters for
university students. Additionally, through this new partnership,
UCLA Athletics will continue in its ability to provide apparel
allocations for the UCLA Spirit Squad and Bruin Marching Band while
enhancing its allocations to campus recreation and their club
sports teams.
UCLA is Under Armour's
35th Division I all-school partnership and third in the
Pac-12 Conference, joining the recently announced University of California, Berkeley and the
University of Utah. UCLA also joins reigning NFL MVP Cam Newton,
two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry, MLB National League MVP Bryce
Harper, NHL MVP Carey Price, PGA Tour Player of the Year
Jordan Spieth and one of the most
decorated athletes of all-time, Michael
Phelps on the Under Armour roster and will be integrated
into the brand's comprehensive story-telling efforts, social media
initiatives, retail promotions and grassroots activations.
About UCLA Athletics
What does it take to earn more
NCAA titles than any other university? How is it possible that
athletes from a single school could produce 250 Olympic medals,
ranking us higher in medal count than most countries? The same
lofty goals and unflappable determination that permeate our
academic spirit also propel UCLA's
athletic dominance. This enduring spirit is apparent in
Jackie Robinson's refusal to be out
when the Majors wouldn't let him in. It was there when the nation
was questioning women's sports and Ann
Meyers answered with the first full athletic scholarship
awarded to a female. It is an ethos that is embodied in the
coaching of John Wooden. His
"Pyramid of Success" taught us that winning really has nothing to
do with the score and everything to do with the effort. He pushed
us to strive for excellence in every facet of our lives. And gave
us a set of principles that have become as iconic as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the many players it
helped shape. UCLA's unique view toward
athletics creates athletes that are more than just winners. They
are invested in their academics. Involved in their community. And
become versatile, engaged individuals who use their abilities to
produce victories beyond the field of play. Perhaps that's why
champions don't just play here. Champions are made here.
About Under Armour, Inc.
Under Armour (NYSE: UA), the
originator of performance footwear, apparel and equipment,
revolutionized how athletes across the world dress. Designed to
make all athletes better, the brand's innovative products are sold
worldwide to athletes at all levels. The Under Armour Connected
Fitness™ platform powers the world's largest digital health and
fitness community through a suite of applications: UA Record,
MapMyFitness, Endomondo and MyFitnessPal. The Under Armour global
headquarters is in Baltimore,
Maryland. For further information, please visit the
Company's website at www.uabiz.com.
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SOURCE Under Armour