Lyon Kits to Change?
By: Inara | October 24th, 2007It was announced yesterday that Umbro had agreed to a takeover deal from Nike that’s worth nearly €410m. What that means, besides Nike getting closer to their goal of global domination, is that Lyon may soon have a swoosh on their kits instead of the much beloved double diamond.
You know you want a piece of that.
Some clubs will probably continue to sport the Umbro logo even after the takeover, but it seems very likely that the more marketable Umbro brands (the England NT, Lyon, Rangers, and Everton) will switch to Nike branding at the end of their contracts.
I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve always thought that Umbro’s designs for Lyon were classy and well-made. It was also nice to be part of a small and exclusive brand (in the CL, only two teams are sponsored by Umbro) that specializes only in soccer. On the other hand, Nike kits aren’t that special, and almost everyone has them. Furthermore, Umbro just signed a new deal with Lyon a few months ago, so I don’t know how that will affect finances, and whether Nike will continue supporting Lyon.
But it’s also true that Lyon will have an easier time marketing themselves since Nike’s resources are superior. What do you guys think?
Category: Team News and Rumors
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Comments
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i read that story and i was wearing my lyon CL league kit as a i read it. i hope that they have a deal similar to nike’s deal with converse since nike owns them too. hopefully i wont have to import my kits anymore and i can get them easier
Posted from
United States
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Like i said in the “Just Pump It” blog, The designers most likely will stay designing.
The thing about Nike jerseys are the material. The Sphere Dry is perfect for the sport, customized to the team and it’s country’s weather, Unlike Adidas’ 1970’s polyester shirt. I love the feel of it too but it is just a disco shirt.
Umbro’s x-static material is nice, if you are built like a European footballer. If not, all the static guard in the world won’t save you. All Lyons kits are my fav, specially the black with the lion on the shoulder. I think they’ll keep the designers so 12 thousand teams aren’t wearing the same model kit.
Posted from
United States -
I really think they have potential but I liked Umbro a lot better in the 90s when every team had their own design. Now each team has the same kit. I’sd hate to see England-Sweden. But I don’t know how Nike will feel about giving kits to Lyon. Their kits were Nike in the late 80s but then Nike decided to only give paris SG some kits. Now Lens, caen, Montpellier and paris FC have them. We’ll see.
It would be a good move for them since Adidas decided to take legendary teams with fans that buy lots of jerseys (Marseille saint etienne)Posted from
France -
It is a dilemma. Lyon have been a good bit of business for Umbro (their shirt sales doubled in one year, going from 100,000 to 200,000), and that number is set to increase thanks to better marketing.
Umbro and Lyon were united in the image they wanted to send out, and it was a matter of some pride for Lyon to associate itself with Umbro as well as its subsidiary Noel Soccer despite the fact that Nike did approach Lyon a year ago with a tentative offer. Nike and Adidas are such global providers that Lyon will have to rethink their stance on what they want out of their kits.
Currently Lyon are the only team in France in all divisions to wear Umbro.
Posted from
United States -
I think Lyon should go with Adidas. They have the nicest kits right now. Nike and Puma have the weakest jerseys.
Posted from
United States -
Sometimes takeover bids doesn’t have to mean change of names. It may only mean that the profits of Umbro are put together with Nike, and not that they want to get rid of the symbol UMBRO. Coca-cola for instance has loads of drinks that are not called Coca-Cola.
The take over bid is just to make sure they get rid of another sport’s contender!Posted from
Japan -
Im for this only because I can now buy a kit, i could never justify importing a kit from a website that I couldnt read the language. (I can read Spanish so my authentic Real Madrid kits I could justify). But like you said, Nike kits are dull and every other team has them, which kinda sucks, Lyon’s were always unique which was good. A switch to Adidas on the cards? Maybe….
Posted from
United States -
i have a personal bias against Nike with their arrogance in the face of accusations of using sweatshops to produce their products. in defiance, and realizing that they are such a global power that they could do whatever they want, they actually put out a billboard campaign that said “100% slave labor” advertising a new football shoe. wtf?
Posted from
United States -
I had a bias against Nike and their approach to soccer. They knew nothing and wanted in the sport so bad. But apparently, with enough money, everything is possible. Look how they dd with skateboard.
Posted from
France -
magnusson: “Their kits were Nike in the late 80s”
i remember those nike kits (actually early 90’s)… you can blame the fashion of the times perhaps, but they were nauseating, the only place you see garish crap like that anymore is on AYSO teams. but nowadays they seem to just follow the tradition of the team they’re suiting up, and except for the swoosh there’s nothing particularly nike-ish about their gear… which doesn’t completely save them from horrible work, witness oranje last WC, just pitiful.
Posted from
France
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