BREAKING: NHL announces new PARTNERSHIP - Fans are NOT happy

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Ryan
March 21, 2023 (11:18)

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In 2022, the National Hockey League (NHL) announced that it would be ending its partnership with Adidas at the end of the season. However, the NHL has now revealed that it has entered into a new 10-year agreement with its long-standing partner, Fanatics. This new deal will see Fanatics become the official outfitter of on-ice uniforms and supplier of authentic jerseys at retail for the league starting from the 2024-25 season.

This marks the next phase of the NHL's collaboration with Fanatics, which has grown over the past two decades to encompass various areas such as e-commerce and retail operations, fan apparel and headwear, replica jerseys, licensed memorabilia, performance and training products, and on-ice Stanley Cup Champions apparel and headwear. With this new deal, Fanatics will add official on-ice uniforms and authentic jerseys sold at retail to its roster of NHL-related products.

Fanatics will replace Adidas as the NHL's outfitter of on-ice uniforms and authentic jerseys, beginning with the 2024-25 season on a 10-year deal.

This marks the 1st time @Fanatics branding will be directly on an official player uniform for a pro sports property. @NHL pic.twitter.com/2iR2vpyYiK� Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) March 21, 2023

Since 2018, Fanatics has been responsible for designing and manufacturing the NHL's Authentic Pro product line, which includes official performance and training apparel and headwear worn by NHL players, coaches, equipment and training staff. Furthermore, since 2017, Fanatics has been manufacturing and supplying official, on-field professional baseball uniforms for all 30 teams. Now, with its operational, design, and manufacturing expertise, Fanatics will focus on producing uniforms for the world's top hockey players.

Fans were not too happy with this announcement, and let their thoughts be known on social media: