Asked for comment on the letter, system spokesman Alex Hummel pointed to the news release UW-Madison issued Friday in which Cross said attracting top out-of-state students increases the chances that more will stay and work in Wisconsin.
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The 10-year, $96 million deal calls for Under Armour to supply $3.3 million in shoes, apparel and equipment to UW-Madison’s 23 athletic teams for free in the first year. Under Armour will pay $450,000 per year in royalties, while adidas only paid $100,000 annually.
A system spokesman didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the letter.
If passed by the Board of Regents and an athletics board, Under Armour would become the official outfitter of UW-Madison Athletics starting July 1, 2016. The school sued that company in 2012, alleging it must pay Indonesian workers up to almost $2 million still owed for back wages and benefits to honor a code of conduct provision in its contract.
UW-Madison Athletic Director Barry Alvarez and Under Armour CEO Kevin Blank held a joint news conference at Camp Randall Stadium following the regent vote.
Alvarez said he’s followed Under Armour’s evolution over the years and had a few discussions before the last deal with Adidas.
Now, as a company that brought in almost $4 billion in revenue previous year, Alvarez simply couldn’t say no to Under Armour. Nike, Under Armour and Adidas will all probably bid for the Longhorns contract.
“It’s a great contract for both sides”, UW Chancellor Rebecca Blank said to The Badger Herald, adding that her daughter loves to wear Under Armour products. Although just prototypes for what may fans may see Wisconsin run out of the tunnel wearing, the uniforms quite clearly signaled a new era in Badgers athletics.
“I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank Adidas for their 15 years of partnership that they gave us”, Alvarez said. The policy contains no such hard commitment; Higgins said he believes in “trust and verify” Blank’s recruiting promise.
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“Today is another chapter in our company’s story – a story we’re very incredibly proud of”, Plank said.
