Topic: Liverpool sign huge kit deal - Warrior to replace Adidas

[smicer07]

Not sure what Adidas have done to get such a love-in.

[Red_Isle_Chap]

Dear Warrior.

Welcome. Cheers for the dosh. Keep it simple eh.

Ta

[djschembri]

Anyone got the full article??

[robbie96]

Nobody got a Times subscription no?

Will gladly post as soon as it's available online - my side of pond!

[-Nay-]

Great maths.

He has an I.Q of 141 ya know

[Surprise me.]

Heres the wiki of the parent company http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Balance

Some interesting things, like they still manufacture their goods in the US and UK rather than countries in Asia like Nike and Adidas do.

Seems like it will be a good deal money wise, lets hope the kits look decent.

[John C]

fucking laughing here mate.

[Eileen]

Not sure what Adidas have done to get such a love-in.

Besides looking fucking awesome?

[neel2108]

As long as it's red, and is't complicated, it'll be fine.

[Licky]

I feel sorry for that poor b@stard who's just finished painting that adidas design in the main stand seats !

[Sir Capon of Debaser]

ha ha though mate, Gareth rightfully has you as his side-kick so you'll have to attire yourself the same but with just a big stick.

[SangPutride]

Will be good for the fair play rules? That's more money we can spend on players. NESV really turning LFC into a financial giant. Here'll be many US-fanboys soon

[Fauxy]

I have got some New Balance trainers.

They are very comfortable and look awesome.

 

[XabiArt]

He has an I.Q of 141 ya know

im sure you have a very personnel vendetta against him

[Chirpy Red]

How much do we get from Standard Charter, 40m?

[Stussy]

Feels strange not to be Adi Dassler anymore.

But eh, 25 mill a year, can live with that.

Caps doffed to you, Ayre.

[ds2190]

Wonder how the players will feel about this. A lot of them will have adjusted to wearing TechFit shirts, whereas New Balance stuff is often completely different in style, material, etc.

[iamrobk]

I don't think we should all freak out that they'll have no idea what they're doing.  I'm sure Ayre made it clear to them that we have high expectations.  Plus, if they want to use Liverpool to get into the European market, they had better make good/popular stuff.

[David Healy...]

Sounds good to me 

[Hus]

From looking at this http://warriorteamuniforms.com/WARRIOR_MENS_LACROSSE_UNIFORMS.html..

I just hope they realise we have numbers on the back

 

[nemo1404]

The full article from The Times

Liverpool have secured the biggest kit deal in English football history, the £25 million-a-year contract with Boston-based Warrior Sports more than doubling the Anfield club’s present agreement with adidas.
The Times understands that Warrior, a subsidiary of New Balance, will take over production of Liverpool kits in time for the 2012-13 season. Adidas, which launched a new away kit last week as part of its £12 million-a-year contract with the club, had the chance to match the offer but was not prepared to meet the American company’s price.
The link between Liverpool and Warrior is believed to be a long-term relationship and outstrips the £23.3 million per year that Nike pays Manchester United, the previous British record.
John W. Henry, the Liverpool owner, has insisted since taking over at Anfield in October that the club would only spend money that it generates. With Liverpool unlikely to qualify for the Champions League this season, some had questioned their ability to compete in the transfer market.
However, the agreement with a brand better known in the lacrosse world would appear to have solved the short-term cashflow problems caused by failure to qualify for Europe’s premier club tournament.
Sources inside Anfield have been increasingly bullish about their summer spending power and Kenny Dalglish is likely to have a considerable war chest when the transfer window opens.
Although the Liverpool caretaker manager believes that the crop of youngsters emerging from the academy has the potential to continue making a positive impression on his squad, he maintains that investment is necessary during the close season if the club are to become competitive again.
“It’s important that there is room for development for players, but it’s also important you don’t use it as an excuse not to spend money and not improve what you’ve already got,” Dalglish said.
“Age does not determine their ability to play. So if we’re convinced we have young players who are maybe better than what’s available, then we’ll keep our younger players.
“But that does not say we don’t want to improve as a football club. We do need to leave some path open if we do think there are players who can come in. If they develop then fine, if they don’t, we’ve got a problem. But if you buy a player in and he doesn’t produce, you’ve got a bigger problem.”
According to PR Marketing, a German market research company, Liverpool are the fourth-biggest replica kit seller in football, behind United, Real Madrid and Barcelona. About 900,000 shirts are sold annually and, in the adidas stable, only Real sell more jerseys. Liverpool’s defection has come as a huge blow to the manufacturer.
Fenway Sports Group (FSG), Liverpool’s owner, has in recent months become increasingly close to Jim Davis, the chairman of New Balance. This month New Balance, previously best known for its running shoes, announced a multiyear partnership with the Boston Red Sox, who share the same owner as Liverpool. Along with a kit deal, New Balance is thought to have paid in the region of $1 million (about £600,000) for a 70-foot illuminated logo inside Fenway Park, the home of the Red Sox.
United’s groundbreaking 13-year deal with Nike expires in 2015 and the Old Trafford club will expect an even bigger cheque when the time comes to negotiate with kit manufacturers.

[smicer07]

Besides looking fucking awesome?

Well that's open for debate, I don't think they look awesome, they're alright. Anyway, who really cares what we look like? I wouldn't be arsed if we played in a pink away kit if it meant we were winning things.

[gregor]

I know for a fact that we LFC supporters will not be the easiest to please.

I know for a fact that most people won't give a fuck.

[gray19lfc]

But, I love Adidas. I love the stripes, what is this. That's a lot of money though, will have to look up this Warrior brand. Still if this is true, I hope Adidas come up with a 26 million a year deal.

Yeah same here.  Adidas sort of belongs with us, in my head anyway.  Will miss the adidas gear, they've made some really nice shirts since taking over from Reebok.

This Warrior stuff sounds like a 5-a-side shirt manufacturer or some Conference team but money talks.

[Snail]

Dear Warrior.

Welcome. Cheers for the dosh. Keep it simple eh.

Ta

[Raoul Duke]

So I take it we are doing away with the one kit every two years then?

One new kit every season, probably.

[Armand9]

http://www.donalleson.com/uniform/warrior-male/index.php

Design your own kit here

first thing i saw was 'gusset color'

and thought, nah

[Stussy]

They produce Lacrosse gear?  Jesus fucking christ.

Adidas were doing a good job.  don't fix something that ain't broken.

If they don't pay as much as we're getting from these, it was broken.

[classycarra]

Wonder how the players will feel about this. A lot of them will have adjusted to wearing TechFit shirts, whereas New Balance stuff is often completely different in style, material, etc.

...it's a t shirt

[DanFromMars]

These new kits we're getting better look fucking nice

Yeah cause we're taking a huge gamble only getting 25m if not....

[nemo1404]

Ben Smith
Updated 28 minutes ago
Spot the odd one out: Nike, adidas, Umbro, Warrior, Reebok. Warrior?
Who are they? The chances are you have never heard of Liverpool’s new shirt manufacturer and unless you are a fan of lacrosse or know the NHL inside out, you will not be not alone.
In the United States, Warrior is a manufacturer to be reckoned with, providing equipment and clothing in ice hockey and lacrosse, America’s oldest sport. In 2004 the company was bought by New Balance, which retained the founder, Dave Morrow, as president and chief executive officer.
Morrow, a lacrosse player, founded Warrior in his Princeton dormitory where he developed the first titanium stick, which the university used en route to their National Championship that year. Warrior was taken from Morrow’s High School American football team in his home town of Michigan, the Brother Rice Warriors.
The buyout took Warrior to new heights and in April this year, New Balance signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with the Boston Red Sox baseball team. As part of the deal, the Red Sox have unveiled a video sign at Fenway Park, measuring 70 feet in length and 7ft 9in in height, featuring the New Balance logo. and the company now provides footwear and clothing to all “fan-facing Red Sox employees”.
New Balance had been happy to sponsor athletes while refraining from using them for advertising. The high-profile acquisitions of a handful of the Red Sox players now sponsored by New Balance is a sign that things are changing. After worldwide sales of $1.78 billion (about £1 billion), the company has changed tack and will take a more proactive approach to its marketing. Liverpool are a logical step.
Warrior remains a company in its own right, but until now has shown no signs of spreading its interest outside traditional sports. Mike Modana of the Detroit Red Wings is among the biggest names on Warrior’s roster. Liverpool will hope this particular deal allows their title dreams to take flight.
Getting shirty
PR Marketing, a German market research company, produces a list of top-selling shirts and the companies that make them each year. The most recent figures were released last August, taking into account average sales between 2005 and 2009

Manchester United Nike, up to 1.5 million
Real Madrid adidas, up to 1.5 million
Barcelona Nike, up to 1.2 million
Liverpool adidas, up to 900,000
Arsenal Nike, up to 900,000
Chelsea adidas, up to 900,000
Bayern Munich adidas, up to 900,000
AC Milan adidas, up to 600,000
Juventus Nike, up to 600,000
Inter Milan Nike, up to 600,00

[DanJay87]

It might be because I'm quite drunk but I think this is awesome.

i am also quite drunk and shall agree with you that this thing in question is awesome

[Vidocq]

sites crashing haha rawk attack

probably milions reds are checking their site...its positive for them,and they can check the number of visitors growing for 1000%

[Visigoth33]

That's an insane amount of money.So Apple or McDonald's on our kits in the near future?

[Eileen]

Well that's open for debate, I don't think they look awesome, they're alright. Anyway, who really cares what we look like? I wouldn't be arsed if we played in a pink away kit if it meant we were winning things.

Well, yeah that's true but it would be nice to sell a lot of shirts, don't think that's going to happen in a pink away kit (could ask everton about that ). Nah, I just liked the vibe Adidas gave, also the Impossible is Nothing thing was great. We just looked right with them imo.

Yeah same here.  Adidas sort of belongs with us, in my head anyway.  Will miss the adidas gear, they've made some really nice shirts since taking over from Reebok.

This Warrior stuff sounds like a 5-a-side shirt manufacturer or some Conference team but money talks.

Yeah agree about Adidas, but like you say money talks.

[Fauxy]

...it's a t shirt

[djschembri]

The full article from The Times

Cheers mate!

[J-Mc-]

The kit designers will love waking up to this.

JMC's xmas come early.

Fucking right it has!

Now to find some templates!

[hoonin]

Not sure what Adidas have done to get such a love-in.

What? No!

[JWAlonso]

We're on like 20m a year from Standard Chartered, 25m from Warrior.

That's 45m a season before you factor in gate receipts, tv deals, shirt sales.

Well played.