Shortly after signing an apparel deal with the NBA that would begin with the 2017-18 season, Nike sent representatives to meet with all 30 teams to introduce a novel idea. For most of NBA history, home teams wore white; road teams wore colors; and occasionally you’d see a throwback or an alternate jersey. Nike wanted to mix things up. They approached teams with the concept of a City Edition uniform, featuring elements unique to each hometown’s cultures and local identities.
Click here to read the story at sportico.com.
Discussion Questions:
- What are industry trends?
- Why do you think alternative jerseys are such a popular trend in U.S. sports leagues?
- What is sponsorship?
- How does Nike, as a sponsor of the NFL and NBA, benefit from the introduction of alternate jerseys?
- What is branding?
- How do “City Edition” uniforms illustrate the concept of branding?
- Why do you think “City Edition” uniforms are so popular in Miami and Brooklyn?
- Could your high school introduce an alternate uniform concept? How might the school benefit?
- If your high school were to introduce a “City Edition” uniform, what might it look like? Why?