Team Insight

62 Team Insight / January 2018 ADA and NBS Co-Locate The Oklahoma City Fall Buying Show attended by both NBS and ADA team dealers was "a complete success," according to the two buying groups. The joint event was held at the Renaissance Hotel and Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City, OK, with more than 100 team dealers from the two team buying groups in attendance. The synergy between the two buying groups allowed show exhibitors to save travel time and expenses by attending a single buying show. In addition, members from both groups benefited from seeing more industry vendors at one location. Both ADA and NBS have indicated they are committed to co-locating their shows for 2018. The Summer show is set for the Hyatt Riverfront Hotel in Jacksonville, FL, from July 13-15. Both organizations say they are working together on details for the Fall Show in November, but no announcement has been made. BSN Acquires Gulf Coast, Hibbett Team Starting off another year, BSN Sports this month acquired Gulf Coast Athletic Supply (GCAS), based in Sugar Land, TX. GCAS, which has served team customers since 1990, is a distributor of team apparel and equipment in the south coast region of Texas, including the Greater Houston market. That move follows the early December acquisi- tion of a portion of the assets of Hibbett Team Sales, based in Birmingham, AL. Hibbett Team, the team dealer subsidiary of Hibbett Sporting Goods, has been selling team sports in Alabama and parts of Georgia and the Florida Panhandle since 1975. With the two acquisitions, BSN has added more than 200 sales professionals in the last 12 months, including in Utah, Washington, Maryland, California, New Mexico, Ohio, Kentucky and Texas. Transfer Express Adds Augusta Transfer Express is now a distributor of the Augusta Sportswear line of wholesale team uni- forms and fanwear. The Augusta lineup includes uniforms for baseball, basketball, cheer and soccer. Spiritwear, activewear and accessory products range from bandanas and beanies to visors and wicking tees. WarDog Partners with MLL WarDog Lacrosse, based in Burlington, NC, will be an official provider of athletic socks for the 2018 Major League Lacrosse (MLL) season. WarDog, which was launched in early 2017, is creating custom sock designs for each of the nine MLL teams. The socks feature strategic padding to protect the heel and ball of the foot, a spandex leg to prevent sliding and Coolmax moisture wick- ing technology across the entire foot. LAX World Closes LAX World has vacated its headquarters in Cockeysville, MD, and shuttered all 16 of its loca- tions, according to a recent report in the Baltimore Sun. The company had stores in Maryland, Virginia, New York, Georgia, Colorado and Washington. The company was founded in 1988 as the first store dedicated to lacrosse. In 2013, founder Jim Darcangelo sold the company to two former Jos. A. Bank Clothiers executives, Frank Barbarino and Michael Stewart. At the time of the purchase, LAX World had 11 stores and the new owners planned to open 40 to 50 stores, both in existing and new markets, in the next five to six years. They also wanted to improve the website to increase online sales and expand the wholesale business, which at the time accounted for about 45 percent of sales. SanMar Adds New Era Apparel SanMar, a supplier of apparel and accessories, recently added more than 40 new apparel styles from New Era. This collection, offered exclusively by SanMar, captures the history and essence of the New Era brand. This apparel line, developed in collaboration with SanMar, is the first time that New Era has expanded beyond hats into the promotional products industry. A catalog will be available this month. Q END ZONE / NEWS SOCCER CORNER Puma Inks Altidore Puma has signed a long-term contract with Jozy Altidore that makes the MLS and U.S. National Team star the face of North American soccer for the brand. Altidore will be featured in campaigns and marketing initiatives for soccer footwear and other soccer-inspired products. USL Partners With Select The United Soccer Leagues (USL) has named Select as the official match ball provider to all USL properties beginning in the 2018 season. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. "The tremendous growth the USL has seen in new soccer markets makes it the perfect partner as we raise Select's profile across North America," says Lars Nielsen, president of Select Sport America. "The opportunity for the USL and Select to rise together across the soccer landscape in the United States and Canada through this partnership will see our range of top-level equipment made highly visible and highly available in the USL's broad spectrum of markets." Adidas Unveils FIFA Match Ball Adidas Soccer recently revealed the Official Match Ball for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia: the Telstar 18. The Telstar 18 is a reimagining of the first Adidas FIFA World Cup match ball, the Telstar, which was used at the 1970 tournament in Mexico. The first ball to be decorated with black panels, the pattern was designed to stand out on black and white televisions. The Telstar 18 features an embedded NFC chip – the first time it has been used in an Official Match Ball – that enables consumers to interact with the ball using a Smartphone. Upon interaction, each ball gen- erates a unique identifier, unlocking exclusive content and information for the user. McDavid Partners With ter Stegen McDavid has partnered with German soccer goal- keeper Marc-André ter Stegen as global ambassador. A highly accomplished performer for FC Barcelona and the Germany national team, ter Stegen is widely considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world. He will help build awareness and promote the usage of McDavid's patented Hex technology in soccer pro- tective apparel. Q

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