While the WNBA is following in the steps of international teams in placing logos on the front of their
jerseys, San Antonio’s WNBA team is keeping their jerseys ad-free.
Company logos on jerseys isn’t exactly a new trend outside of the United States. How many times have we seen ‘VISA” displayed across San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili’s blue Argentina jersey.
The WNBA announced a partnership with Boost Mobile to place ads on jerseys of 10 of the 12 WNBA teams. Since the Silver Stars already have a sponsorship with a mobile sponsor, they will not be displaying the Boost logo.
WNBA president Laurel Richie says sponsored uniforms are “absolutely” an idea whose time has finally come. She called the “marquee” partnership with Boost the biggest in the 15-year history of the league.
Could the WNBA’s decision to support ads on jerseys set a trend?
NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver said back in 2009 that the league was weighing the idea. The NBA continues to examine the idea of putting ads on player jerseys.
“The presence of corporate branding on game uniforms is a widely accepted practice on the global sports landscape and it is an opportunity we continue to evaluate for the NBA,” says spokesman Mike Bass.
Since the NBA uses the D-League as it’s R&D division, it’s more likely that you’ll see the NBA test the idea there first.
While purists may not agree with the idea, it could be food for though while players and owners are arguing over money in the NBA lockout. Bringing in other streams of income could certainly help some of the struggling teams in terms of revenue.
