The UFC have had apparel deals for their athletes for almost a decade now, first with Reebok and more recently with Venum.
This is a practise that has lead many to criticize the UFC, but Endeavor president Mark Shapiro feels an apparel deal would benefit WWE.
Appearing on the Sports Media podcast with Richard Deitsch, Endeavor President Mark Shapiro was asked if he believed WWE could benefit from an apparel deal.
“We haven’t finished this transaction, we’re still running through this process, we’re not making any decisions. We’re not in control, so I’m not going to forecast what we may or may not do. I’ll speak to you from a point of view of why we thought it was so attractive. Yes, all of those are opportunities. You want to be authentic, seamless, organic, and true to your audience. We’re not going to put a brand on somebody’s robe walking to the ring. Do UFC fighters wear Venom apparel and Project Rock shoes? Yes, they do. Could WWE benefit from an apparel deal as such, a shoe deal as such? Absolutely. We’re not going to over-commercialize it. We’re not going to saturate it to the point that we cheap it out and trick it out, and you turn off the fanbase. You have to figure out what’s right in the ring, in the Octagon, what’s right in the arena, indoor and outdoor. What’s right with the fighters and the participants, and you have to walk before you run,”
Mark Shapiro
Nick Khan has previously noted WWE are expanding their sponsorship deals to include things such as the ring mat being sponsored.
H/T to Fightful
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