UH’s Under Armour deal expiring | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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The University of Hawaii is seeking a partner for what could become the athletic department’s first all-sports apparel sponsorship contract.

The formal solicitation of interest this month comes in advance of the expiration in 2017 of its current deal with Under Armour.

UH initially signed an eight-year, $4.1 million football deal with Baltimore-based Under Armour in 2008. It subsequently added other sports, including baseball, softball and men’s basketball in the 21-sport athletic program but did not include women’s volleyball, which has a long tie with Asics.

The deal was due to expire June 30, 2016, but the parties agreed to a one-year extension. The extension was said to be worth in the neighborhood of $587,000 this year and included $160,000 in rights fees plus $260,000 in product allowance, $41,000 in coaches apparel and $85,000 in marketing support and other considerations, according to the contract.

In 2014-15, UH’s deal was estimated to rank third in the 12-member Mountain West Conference.

Athletic director David Matlin declined to say if he expected Under Armour to be involved in any new deal, writing in an email, “At this time, UH Athletics is not at liberty to discuss the ongoing process any further, other than to acknowledge it is underway.”

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UH’s initial deal with Under Armour came less than two months after its Sugar Bowl appearance and made the school one of the first non-Power Five schools to get a cash-merchandise deal with the company.

Competition among Under Armour and industry rivals Nike and Adidas has brought record contracts for Power Five schools in the last two years. Since Notre Dame signed with Under Armour for $90 million in 2014, Michigan, Texas, Ohio State and UCLA have struck more lucrative deals. UCLA, which agreed to a 15-year, $280 million deal with Under Armour in May, has the current record.

Matlin said, “We are very appreciative that we have had such strong apparel partners in the past and are looking forward to working collaboratively with our apparel partner, whoever it may be, in the future.”