The University of Arizona has renewed its athletic apparel contract with Nike, more than doubling the annual product allotment it receives from the retail giant.
The new contract is an eight-year deal that runs through 2033 and has a total value of $44 million, or $5.5 million per year. It begins with the 2025-26 athletic season.
Running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, left, executes a drill during an Arizona football practice at Arizona Stadium on Aug. 2, 2024.
Arizona’s current contract expires on June 30. The 10-year deal provided $23.3 million worth of Nike products, or $2.33 million per year.
In recent years, the athletic department’s apparel expenditures exceeded its allotment from Nike by as much as $2.5 million in a given year. That money had to come out of the department’s budget.
Under the new contract, that money can be spent on revenue-sharing and/or other operational costs. Athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois has said the UA is fully committed to the revenue-sharing model that’s expected to go into effect when the House vs. NCAA settlement is finalized. Athletes would receive up to $20.5 million in revenue-sharing starting in 2025-26.
The new deal with Nike starts at $5.15 million in 2025-26 and increases by $100,000 annually, peaking at $5.85 million in 2032-33.
It is believed to be the largest apparel deal for a Nike school in the Big 12 Conference.
“Our long-term partnership with Nike has been mutually beneficial for decades, and this contract extension further enhances the university’s ability to support our student-athletes, coaches and staff and elevate the UA brand,” Reed-Francois said in a news release. “Today’s announcement demonstrates a mutual commitment to excellence and would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication from our campus partners. This agreement positions Arizona Athletics among the nation’s top programs, benefiting from robust corporate partnerships. We are grateful to Nike and its leadership team, and we look forward to many more years of a wonderful partnership.”
