The inevitable is now a reality: the NBA announced Friday that its Board of Governors has green-lit the sale of jersey sponsorships, beginning with the 2017-18 season.
The ads will appear opposite the Nike logo—the Swoosh’s multi-year uniform partnership with the League kicks in next season—and patches will measure 2.5 inches by 2.5 inches.
The ads are reportedly expected to generate about $150 million per year, with teams pocketing half the cash and the rest going into a revenue-sharing pool.
From the press release:
The NBA’s 30 teams will be responsible for selling their own jersey sponsorships.
“Jersey sponsorships provide deeper engagement with partners looking to build a unique association with our teams and the additional investment will help grow the game in exciting new ways,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “We’re always thinking about innovative ways the NBA can remain competitive in a global marketplace, and we are excited to see the results of this three-year trial.”
The sponsor patch will not appear on the retail versions of the player jerseys but teams will have the option to sell the jerseys with sponsor patches in their own retail outlets.
