Team Insight

Augusta Partners With Perfect Game Augusta Sportswear and Perfect Game, an elite youth baseball and softball plat- form and scouting service, have entered into a multi- year apparel and uniform partnership. "We are thrilled to be part- nering with Perfect Game on so many levels, we quickly realized our foundational beliefs from the diamond to the community align with each other's," says Dave Elliott, CEO of Augusta Sportswear Brands. "Perfect Game is excited to partner with Augusta Sportswear. Their commit- ment to quality apparel is extremely impressive. Both PG and Augusta share a passion for baseball and softball," adds Jerry Ford, founder and president of Perfect Game. Fanatics Acquires Top of the World Parent Fanatics has agreed to acquire certain assets from Vetta Brands, including Top of the World (TOW), the col- legiate headwear license. The move adds headwear expertise to Fanatics' vertical manufacturing capabilities and supports its growing college sports licensing business. Top of the World's cur- rent president Scott Shuler will continue to lead the Top of the World business and the Top of the World brand will continue to be available. He will be joining Fanatics Brands as SVP. Fanatics says the rights from more than 600 schools have already been consented to Fanatics with the deal. As part of the acquisition, Fanatics keeps Top of the World from pending liqui- dation and restores more than 200 jobs. Fanatics is also taking over Top of the World's 220,000-square- foot manufacturing plant in Norman, OK. SFIA Releases 89 Single Sport Reports From basketball to pick- leball, the Sports & Fitness Association (SFIA) has released 89 Single Sport & Fitness Reports. The individual activity reports provide detailed analysis, showing year-over-year trends, and breakdown of participation by a multitude of demographic variables. Each report tracks participa- tion as defined by gender, participation frequency, age, geographic region, market size area, income, education level and cross-sport/activity participation. "It's interesting to see the foundation of each individ- ual activity's participation," says SFIA CEO and presi- dent, Tom Cove. "The insight provided by these reports is crucial to companies' ability to aptly target marketing and retail strategy, depending on their market's consumer base and opportunities for growth." Results for the 2020 SFIA Single Sports and Fitness Reports were gathered by Sports Marketing Surveys USA, using the US Online Panel operated by IPSOS to conduct 18,000 dedi- cated online interviews in a nationwide sample of individuals and households during the 2019 calendar year. All 2020 SFIA Single Sport and Fitness Participation Reports are $99 (per report) to all current SFIA members and $295 for non-members. For more: www.sfia.org. New Product: Cliff Keen Squeeze Whistle Cliff Keen's Squeeze Whistle provides a safe and effective option for officials and coaches who need a whistle without the need to exhale. It includes a bul- bous squeeze "handle" that fits in the palm of a hand, eliminating exhaling breath particles into the air as with conventional whistles. And it produces a crisp, loud sound. New Product: Champro Batting Helmet The new HX Legend Plus and HX Gamer Plus batting helmets maximize safety, airflow, visibility and com- fort. The weight-optimized shell is durable ABS and fea- tures a comfort pad system with BioFresh and Dri-Gear technology. Jaw pads are wrapped with soft touch, moisture wicking fabric. All Plus models come with the HX Jaw Guard for added pro- tection and are designed to be interchangeable on either side. n Bezanson Elected to 2021 Sporting Goods Hall of Fame BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE RETAIL FOOTPRINT in Canada cemented Eric Bezanson's selection to the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Class of 2021. Bezanson, the owner of Cleve's Source for Sports stores in Canada's Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, will join more than 170 retailers, team dealers, manufacturers and industry influencers who have been honored with induction into the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame since it was established by the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) in 1955. The selection of Bezanson was made by the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Committee at its annual meeting in May, which was held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bezanson bought Cleve's Sporting Goods in 1972 in Halifax, Nova Scotia and the chain has grown to 18 retail locations, two team/ institutional locations and a seasonal ski hill in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame dinner and induction is scheduled to be held May 18, 2021, at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, FL, the site of the 2021 NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit. The members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2020 – Peter Capolino (Mitchell & Ness Nostalgia Company), Robert Greenberg (Skechers) and Klaus Obermeyer (Sport Obermeyer) – will also be part of the 2021 induction ceremony. Their ceremony scheduled for May was canceled because of the COVID- 19 pandemic. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2022 induction class. The deadline for nominations is February 19, 2021. Download a nomination form at www.nsga.org/halloffame or request a nomination packet at HOF@nsga. org. Questions should be directed to Hall of Fame Committee secretary Julie Pitts, jpitts@ nsga.org. n 34 Team Insight ~ September/October 2020 teaminsightmag.com END ZONE

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