We’re getting our first looks at NBA jerseys with sponsor patches on them. And, for the most part, it’s not too bad. They’re subtle and, at least as we saw with Philadelphia, Boston and Sacramento, the patches match the color scheme well. But then, the Brooklyn Nets had to ruin that streak by placing a bright red patch on their black-and-white jerseys.
Why mess with a good thing, Brooklyn?
NEWS: We’re looking forward to the future, and we're proud that @Infor will be a part of it. pic.twitter.com/EAUgekqz2e
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 8, 2017
The Brooklyn Nets’ sponsor, tech company Infor, is reportedly paying the team $8 million a year, according to CBS Sports. Like some soccer teams, which prominently display sponsor logos, Infor may have a clause in its sponsorship agreement that the ad must be a certain color. It certainly stands out against the black and white background. But is “noticeable” synonymous with “distracting” in this context? Is the ad doing more harm than good? It could put a bad taste in mouths of Brooklyn fans who love the purity of the team’s color scheme.
The deal includes Infor branding within the Barclays Center—which the Nets share with the NHL’s New York Islanders—including digital and static signage, features on the scoreboard during YES Network broadcasts, branding around the Nets bench and more.
“Our alliance with Infor is a transformative partnership for both business and basketball operations, and is indicative of the cutting edge and gritty culture we are building,” Brett Yormak, CEO of Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment said in a release. “The patch on the jersey represents our deep engagement with Infor and the software company’s role in taking our performance to the highest level in basketball operations and the business side. We are looking forward to joining some of the world’s most innovative brands, like Ferrari, for the unique opportunity of installing Infor’s proven business applications into our company.”
The term “gritty” comes up twice in the press release—the second time from Infor president Stephan Scholl.
“What makes the partnership even more special is the bond we feel with the Nets from a cultural perspective,” he said. “Infor shares the Nets’ gritty, entrepreneurial spirit, and, like the Nets, we moved into our New York headquarters in 2012.”
The sponsorship certainly is disruptive, but is it in a good way? Should the Nets have made the patch fit in with their color scheme?
The real test will be to see if the Lakers use anything that clashes with their classic purple and gold scheme.
