Penn State confirms the change from Nike to Adidas

[StickEm]

Hopefully NIL for other sports, especially wrestling, is part of this contract. Adidas is already a major player in wrestling shoes/apparel and Penn State’s influence on young wrestlers across the nation could be very impactful for Adidas. You can’t go to a youth or High School wrestling tournament here in North Carolina without seeing multiple wrestlers and parents in Penn State wrestling gear.

The North America wrestling apparel market was valued at USD 272.40 Billion in 2024. The industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.00% during the forecast period of 2025-2034 to attain a valuation of USD 403.22 Billion by 2034.

 

[StickEm]

@GregPickel just responded on the Lion’s Den board that:


Wrestling and WVB were both specifically mentioned in the release:

“ In the lead up to the partnership’s official commencement in 2026, Penn State and adidas will be prioritizing high-impact NIL agreements and brand marketing campaigns for student-athletes across all 31 sports, including the defending national champion women’s volleyball and wrestling programs.”

 

[Sammy7777!]

Hopefully NIL for other sports, especially wrestling, is part of this contract. Adidas is already a major player in wrestling shoes/apparel and Penn State’s influence on young wrestlers across the nation could be very impactful for Adidas. You can’t go to a youth or High School wrestling tournament here in North Carolina without seeing multiple wrestlers and parents in Penn State wrestling gear.

The North America wrestling apparel market was valued at USD 272.40 Billion in 2024. The industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.00% during the forecast period of 2025-2034 to attain a valuation of USD 403.22 Billion by 2034.

Should definitely help our wrestling recruiting. I’m sure Cael and Staff are happy. Let’s go hard after Bassett and Miller now.

 

[SleepyLion]

@GregPickel just responded on the Lion’s Den board that:


Wrestling and WVB were both specifically mentioned in the release:

“ In the lead up to the partnership’s official commencement in 2026, Penn State and adidas will be prioritizing high-impact NIL agreements and brand marketing campaigns for student-athletes across all 31 sports, including the defending national champion women’s volleyball and wrestling programs.”

I think those two teams were mentioned because it allowed for the emphasis of "national champion". These are PSU's best teams.

If T&F, men's gymnastics, or lacrosse were national championships they would have been mentioned.

 

[Psalm 1 guy]

Hopefully NIL for other sports, especially wrestling, is part of this contract. Adidas is already a major player in wrestling shoes/apparel and Penn State’s influence on young wrestlers across the nation could be very impactful for Adidas. You can’t go to a youth or High School wrestling tournament here in North Carolina without seeing multiple wrestlers and parents in Penn State wrestling gear.

The North America wrestling apparel market was valued at USD 272.40 Billion in 2024. The industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.00% during the forecast period of 2025-2034 to attain a valuation of USD 403.22 Billion by 2034.

Million, not billion : )

North America Wrestling Apparel Market Size, Share 2032

North America Wrestling Apparel Market to reach $396.4 Million by 2032, Online segment to cross at 4.3% CAGR; Canada to cite at 4.9% CAGR

www.alliedmarketresearch.com

 

[StickEm]

Million, not billion : )

North America Wrestling Apparel Market Size, Share 2032

North America Wrestling Apparel Market to reach $396.4 Million by 2032, Online segment to cross at 4.3% CAGR; Canada to cite at 4.9% CAGR

www.alliedmarketresearch.com

I copied and pasted from a research article that Google AI found for me and didn’t validate the numbers. In retrospect, hundreds of millions makes more sense for a market size than hundreds of Billions for the wrestling market. 30 million wrestlers @ $100 per year (pair of shoes and a singlet) sizes the market at $3B per year. Not sure how valid those assumptions are

 

[StickEm]

I think those two teams were mentioned because it allowed for the emphasis of "national champion". These are PSU's best teams.

If T&F, men's gymnastics, or lacrosse were national championships they would have been mentioned.

Both of those teams are marketing powerhouses for their respective sports and apparel markets

 

[BigFella235]

Did anyone else read the article from the CDT regarding Nike’s treatment of PSU? Not a good look for Nike considering how tight Joe Pa and Phil Knight were

 

[An Old Pair of Asics]

Did anyone else read the article from the CDT regarding Nike’s treatment of PSU? Not a good look for Nike considering how tight Joe Pa and Phil Knight were

It was a no-brainer to switch from Nike. What’s the counter argument to stay with them, loyalty? Take the money.

 

[El_Jefe]

Did anyone else read the article from the CDT regarding Nike’s treatment of PSU? Not a good look for Nike considering how tight Joe Pa and Phil Knight were

Here's the article: https://www.centredaily.com/sports/college/penn-state-university/psu-football/article311970547.html

It's paywalled, but here are some key points :
- Nike not only prioritized Oregon (a given) -- but also prioritized Michigan and Ohio State ahead of PSU.
- Nike has not had a major company rep on campus since Pat Kraft started in 2022.
- For the football national semis, Nike approved anOSU wearing the gold swoosh and rejected PSU wearing it.
- Nike rejected a Saquon Barkley shoe brand, but then tried to negotiate it into the new contract.
- Nike's initial offer was lower than the current deal.
- The new Adidas deal is nearly 2x the current Nike contract and has significantly higher incentive bonuses. PSU would've made 10x more in 2024-25 bonuses had this contract been in place 1 year earlier.

Not stated explicitly, but strongly implied that Adidas' NIL package and Student Ambassador Program are upgrades over Nike.

Kraft made the right decision here. Pretty easy call, anyone except Barbour would've done the same.

 

[manatree]

Did anyone else read the article from the CDT regarding Nike’s treatment of PSU? Not a good look for Nike considering how tight Joe Pa and Phil Knight were

I have a feeling that the relationship between Paterno and Knight was purely financial for both.

 

[PSUPetch]

I have a feeling that the relationship between Paterno and Knight was purely financial for both.

Hmmmm….Given his history, Joe didn’t strike me as a guy motivated by money.

 

[El_Jefe]

I have a feeling that the relationship between Paterno and Knight was purely financial for both.

Obviously there was a financial component, and Joe clearly sought a strong deal for PSU Athletics. But it wasn't purely financial. There was a mutual admiration, at least until Sandusky.

And then when Sandusky hit, Knight flopped around like a fish out of water, alternating between trashing and praising Joe. Politicians were envious of his flip-flopping. He got a 10 from the East German gymnastics judge. Even Bobby Bowden had to pause his own flip-flopping long enough to witness Knight's. His treatment of Joe was rivaled only by Penn State's treatment of Joe.

 

[5q]

PSu run DMC track suits, and sambas for all athletes F Yeah.

3 stripe out , blaring My ADIDAS Over the speakers
This is huge news for the brand and allows us to compete in football and basketball, and of course compete even more in wrestling

 

[Matter7172]

All I know is that after what Knight did to the University of Oregon's wrestling program, I'm happy to see Nike uninvolved with Penn State wrestling - or any wrestling program.

 

[Headlock]

Here's the article: https://www.centredaily.com/sports/college/penn-state-university/psu-football/article311970547.html

It's paywalled, but here are some key points :
- Nike not only prioritized Oregon (a given) -- but also prioritized Michigan and Ohio State ahead of PSU.
- Nike has not had a major company rep on campus since Pat Kraft started in 2022.
- For the football national semis, Nike approved anOSU wearing the gold swoosh and rejected PSU wearing it.
- Nike rejected a Saquon Barkley shoe brand, but then tried to negotiate it into the new contract.
- Nike's initial offer was lower than the current deal.
- The new Adidas deal is nearly 2x the current Nike contract and has significantly higher incentive bonuses. PSU would've made 10x more in 2024-25 bonuses had this contract been in place 1 year earlier.

Not stated explicitly, but strongly implied that Adidas' NIL package and Student Ambassador Program are upgrades over Nike.

Kraft made the right decision here. Pretty easy call, anyone except Barbour would've done the same.

Kraft represents the type of proactive leader every university would want in an Athletic Director. He treats PSU as if were a member of his own family.

 

[BigFella235]

Kraft represents the type of proactive leader every university would want in an Athletic Director. He treats PSU as if were a member of his own family.

I had similar thoughts when I read that a Nike rep hadn’t been on campus since Sandy was in charge. Kraft works his tail off acquiring and maximizing PSU resources. Sandy struck me as a Lassiez-Faire type of leader which is not conducive to being a good AD at a major university.

 

[a_mshaffer]

All Day I Dream About S________ (not soccer )

 

[mcpat]

I can’t speak to NIL, but the swag from Nike was significant in some non-revenue sports. And I mean significant.