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ECU announces long-term pact with Nike
From staff and ECU reports
©2006 Bonesville.net
East Carolina athletics
and Nike have entered into a five-year partnership that will equip all of
the school's sports programs and bring licensed ECU/Nike products to retail
stores.
The deal, which will
begin with the 2006-2007 school year, will provide footwear, apparel and
equipment for all Pirate sports teams, according to an ECU press release.
The
terms of the contract ensure that ECU teams in all sports will utilize Nike
equipment and will be outfitted from "head to toe" in Nike uniforms,
including practice and travel gear, said the announcement.
Pirate fans will be on
the receiving end of the merchandising aspects of the accord, which
contemplates the distribution of officially-licensed ECU/Nike-branded
products through retail outlets including game-day souvenir booths at
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium and local bookstore locations.
"The agreement with
Nike will be a home run for everyone associated with the Pirate family," ECU
Director of Athletics Terry Holland said in a statement. "Our coaches and
team members are pleased with the quality of the Nike product from head to
toe and our fans will be extremely pleased with the improved availability of
retail product that will allow every member of the Pirate Nation to show
their true colors."
"This partnership is
indicative of the respect Pirate athletics is earning in a highly
competitive marketplace," Holland's statement continued, "and I truly
appreciate the hard work of Lee Workman, who handles our licensing, to make
this initiative a reality for us."
Workman is ECU's
Assistant Athletics Director for Special Projects.
Nike, based near
Beaverton, OR, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of
authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide
variety of sports and fitness activities.
"Nike is truly enthused
with the opportunity of partnering with the Pirates," Scott Zanon, Nike's
National Manager of College Team Sales, stated. "ECU is a quality
institution, both academically and athletically, and a school that Nike is
proud to be associated with. We are honored to add East Carolina to the
family of Nike colleges and look forward to outfitting student-athletes at
ECU with the Nike swoosh for many years to come."
©2006 All rights rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A release from ECU's athletics
media relations office was used in compiling this report.
02/23/2007 11:43:19 AM |
