Every NBA team now has a corporate logo on the front of their game jerseys (two of them if you count the Nike swoosh, because they make the jerseys). It’s become a source of revenue for teams and hasn’t caused much of a stir among fans.
Now teams will be able to sell additional ads on their team practice jerseys, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The NBA has approved all teams to place an additional sponsorship asset on practice jerseys for use during team practices and shootarounds, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 11, 2020
The advertising on practice/shootaround jerseys could be larger than on game attire (where it is limited to the right side shoulder area), although obviously the cost would be less for the sponsor.
I’m surprised this hasn’t already happened. This creates another opportunity for revenue for the team, likely from a more local sponsor (who is watching guys in practice jerseys most of the season, other than a team’s hard-core local fans). It’s not messing with the integrity of the game.
Expect to teams start announcing the deals this offseason and the ads to show up next season. There’s no reason to delay.
