NBA owners have agreed to allow advertisements on team uniforms this week in a highly anticipated meeting that featured several personnel from each franchise. This decision will allow teams to add a 2.5 by 2.5 inch patch on its uniform during the 2017-2018 season and beyond when the rule officially becomes effective.
According to commissioner Adam Silver, the Charlotte Hornets are already considering a rather popular advertisement addition to uniforms in 2017:
BREAKING: Adam Silver said it’s likely Hornets will have Brand Jordan logo on jerseys in 2017-18, not the Nike logo like rest of league.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 15, 2016
Michael Jordan, the owner of the Charlotte Hornets, would surely want the Jordan logo to be attached on his team’s jerseys. As for a logo from Nike, a rival to the Jordan brand? It’s safe to say this patch won’t be coming on Jordan’s Charlotte Hornets.
While some fans are unsupportive in the league’s decision to incorporate advertisements on jerseys, it’s important to note the revenue effect it holds on the NBA, a company that is forever seeking money.
Following from Scott Soshnick of Bloomberg.com:
“Jersey sponsorships provide deeper engagement with partners looking to build a unique association with our teams,”NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “The additional investment will help grow the game in exciting new ways,”
The ads will generate about $150 million in total revenue per year, according to people familiar with league and team operations. Teams will keep half of what the ads generate, and the other half will be put into a revenue-sharing pool. Successful teams that make more national TV appearances — and teams with bigger international audiences — can make more money from a company seeking to put its logo on a uniform.
The league will generate a great amount of money from this decision, helping explain that this Soccer-like move isn’t necessarily preferred my most fans, but is absolutely necessary. The Hornets sporting a Jordan logo because of their owner might start a trend followed by others in the near future.
