Reebok Signs NLL Sponsorship Deal

[Chamoo]

Reebok has recently signed a sponsorship deal with the NLL.

I know this hasn't been officially announced by either the NLL or Reebok, but I have it on good work that it has happened.

Reebok has recently purchased the lacrosse company MaxLax and will be creating Reebok equipment using their technology and using their prior lines. They will also be expanding their lines to player equipment which includes gloves, slash guards, shoulder pads, kidney pads, heads, and shafts.

The deal includes Reebok as the sole equipment provider to the NLL. No other equipment will be allowed on NLL floors unless a player has a prior contract to another lacrosse company to use their equipment as those contracts cannot be voided.

Next year we will see a new era of the NLL as Reebok will be plastered all over the arena's and players.

[goalieskcickay]

Sounds good to me! Hopefully with this big of a company in, lacrosse will get alot more exposure.

[laxgoalieking]

this wont be good at all it'll be like the mll and warrior but not as strick, so all reboks doing is stealing or buying marty o'neils ideas

[goalieskcickay]

I'm thinking in the bigger picture, with a huge brand name sponsering and producing lacrosse stuff will most definetly be good for the growth of the sport, if not for the purity.

[RedBird1]

I think this is great. "RBK LAX" Hopefully they make commercials and go all out with it. I just hate the exclusive Reebok clause. I dont want the same MLL/Warrior crap. You should have freedom of advertisment.

[BClax17]

I already knew about the Reebok thing but I had no clue about them becoming the exclusive supplier of the NLL for equipment. I really hope that doesn't happen and I don't think players want that either. I don't care if they make the jerseys and advertise but don't make this another MLL.

[wingslax5]

I don't see what the big deal is about a company being an exclusive supplier. If it wasn't for these huge companies dumping a huge amount of money into the leagues then there wouldnt be any leagues to begin with. What's the big deal if you have to use a warrior or reebok stick, you should be glad to use their products because without them you wouldnt even have the chance to play professionally or watch the leagues.

[dougm]

its not the league that has an issue w/ exclusive equipment deals, its the players. for alot of these guys, that is the big money, not an nll or mll paycheck. it is one thing for reebok to be a sponsor of the nll, it is another to lockout other players from getting some extra coin that the nll cannot afford. but since nothing official has been reported then perhaps the deal won't be as restrictive as the mll was w/ warrior.

[NLLStormCA]

i like how rbk works though, if you want to use there stuff you can(just the uniform is man.) like in the nhl, if you like a stick you can use it, if you like jofa you can use it, they only thing you have to wear rbk is the jersey, same with the nfl, you can wear any cheats you want...
but i dont think they would be like the mll...rbk is good stuff, they are totally taking over the market for spon. with the nhl, nfl, and the nll...if anything this helps put the NLL on the sports map. rbk is really big, and they wouldnt sign on unless they knew it would be good for them...

[Stonewall35]

this wont be good at all it'll be like the mll and warrior but not as strick, so all reboks doing is stealing or buying marty o'neils ideas

http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=29460

Reebok and MaxLax are partners in this deal. All goalie equipment will have the name Reebok by MaxLax on it. The only thing that won't have the Reebok name are the sticks and the goalie's gloves (Fury).

The exception to this rule is that if a player has an individual sponsorship with another company, that name has to be covered with cloth or tape. In other words, similar to what the NFL does with helmets (Riddell is the official helmet supplier, but players also use Schutt or Bike helmets)

[fitzy_nb_11]

http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=29460

Reebok and MaxLax are partners in this deal. All goalie equipment will have the name Reebok by MaxLax on it. The only thing that won't have the Reebok name are the sticks and the goalie's gloves (Fury).

The exception to this rule is that if a player has an individual sponsorship with another company, that name has to be covered with cloth or tape. In other words, similar to what the NFL does with helmets (Riddell is the official helmet supplier, but players also use Schutt or Bike helmets)
yes,and the logo must be replaced by the rbk sign

[KnightsLAXDad]

yes,and the logo must be replaced by the rbk sign

But isn't that, in effect, the same as using RBK exclusvely? The reason they sponsor athletes is to get their name and logo in the public eye. If you have to cover it up, then then they are essentially doing the same thing. You might as well be wearing RBK gear.

[Hooligan]

For those of you who know me, the "exclusive supplier" issue is one of the reasons why I get so annoyed at the MLL.

Now, when it comes to a shoe and sporting goods manufacturer like Reebok, whatever. A shoe is a shoe is a shoe. There's really not that much difference.

Now when it comes down to the game equipment, this is where I have a problem. If one company (like: STX, DeBeer, Warrior, Brine, etc) gets exclusive rights to outfit the entire league with sticks, protective equipment, and so on, you're just asking for major problems. One company cannot be the best. Sure, they can supply the biggest money for endorsement, but each player has their own endorsement label. Whats the sense of even having those contracts for the players, if they can't display the sticks on the field?

Personally, I would not appreciate the league I play for telling me that I can't use my personal preference of equipment.

[KnightsLAXDad]

For those of you who know me, the "exclusive supplier" issue is one of the reasons why I get so annoyed at the MLL.

Now, when it comes to a shoe and sporting goods manufacturer like Reebok, whatever. A shoe is a shoe is a shoe. There's really not that much difference.

Now when it comes down to the game equipment, this is where I have a problem. If one company (like: STX, DeBeer, Warrior, Brine, etc) gets exclusive rights to outfit the entire league with sticks, protective equipment, and so on, you're just asking for major problems. One company cannot be the best. Sure, they can supply the biggest money for endorsement, but each player has their own endorsement label. Whats the sense of even having those contracts for the players, if they can't display the sticks on the field?

Personally, I would not appreciate the league I play for telling me that I can't use my personal preference of equipment.


And why would any other company offer endorsement money to any LAX player in the M/NLL now if they can't showcase their products? These guys aren't making that much, certainly orders of magnitude less than NHL/NBA/NFL etc etc. In fact not really enough to be considered "making a living".

I could see team or teams sponsorship and everyone on the team should use the same glove, helmet whatever, but the whole league and every piece of logo'd equipment. Way overboard. It seems like desparate measure on the part of the NLL to bring in sponsorship money. Great for the sponsor, great for the league, crappy for the players.

[laxfreak24]

Rbk lax will probably be just like Rbk hockey. MaxLax will be like CCM. Rbk will stick their name on the same stuff and take over manufacturing plants previously owned by MaxLax. Should be interesting...

[Chamoo]

It will hurt the minor companies in the sport like Brine, Warrior ect... who don't have the money RBK does which can't be good for the sport.

[goalieskcickay]

No, it will be bad for Warrior, Brine etc., not bad for the sport.

[ravens_4life]

It will hurt the minor companies in the sport like Brine, Warrior ect... who don't have the money RBK does which can't be good for the sport.

For one i dont think this will hurt minor companies because have a major company get into lacrosse can only help. When some one major like RBK gets into a sport they tend to get more popular,meaning there will be more people playing the game and buying gear. More people buying gear means a good chance every company in lacrosse will grow. Secondly warrior cant really be called a minor company because they are owned by a major one in New blance.

[KnightsLAXDad]

Actually in that respect, does Warrior dominate the equipment market because they are the (near) exclusive supplier to the MLL? No.

[slinkyspine]

If a player absolutley wants another brand of equip it sounds like he could have it . even he had to tape over the logo an d write rbk like Forsberg did to his skates a while back so be it

[Stonewall35]

Rbk lax will probably be just like Rbk hockey. MaxLax will be like CCM. Rbk will stick their name on the same stuff and take over manufacturing plants previously owned by MaxLax. Should be interesting...

I doubt that will be the case. A similar situation in the industry I did see was a partnership between Wilson and Itech in regards to baseball at one time. Itech made a catchers helmet similar to a goalie mask labelled Wilson by Itech, where the Wilson logo is the main logo.

The way I see things progress, I think this is the route that Reebok and MaxLax will take.

[Diablos247]

oh boy. this could be the worst thing to happen to lacrosse since warrior. the simple fact is if reebok became the exclusive supplier of the nll. the sport definitely would get more expusure, but im not so sure its the best thing for the sport companies like brine and stx would disappear.

"For one i dont think this will hurt minor companies because have a major company get into lacrosse can only help. When some one major like RBK gets into a sport they tend to get more popular,meaning there will be more people playing the game and buying gear. More people buying gear means a good chance every company in lacrosse will grow."

how can they possibly grow if there products cant be used. mikey powell, gary gait, all of those guys are why kids these days buy products. why would you buy a product with someones name on it if they dont use it. you dont. people want what their favorite player uses not what they would use if they could.

personally i would love to see a mll player actually stand up for the actual sport of lacrosse and say i like stx brine etc. products and im playing with them. players will likely make next to no money now. if a company cant advertise with a player theres no reason to sponsor them. if a company owns the excluse rights to the leagues equipment theres no reason to sponsor them because you dont have competition in the market.

[Lax4Ever]

It was said that players already under contract by other companies are still able to use that equipment but can new players still be signed by the other companies and use the gear from the company they are signed too?
Is it possible that players most likely to be drafted would be offered contracts by other companies? That way they still have some of their gear being shown at the professional level.
I like that rbk is into lacrosse and wants to become a major contributor to the sport but telling a pro that they can't use anything from any other company just doesn't seem right. Some of the top pros use equipment that they designed. Gary had the g-force line and the stx box heads, Grant designed the profile and a bunch of stuff like that. Paul has an entire company worth of designed gear. There has been some amazing equipment from pros and that has a potential to end since they wouldn't be able to use it.

[tomahawks11]

that sounds great.... but i hope they will start selling more NLL stuff in stores now since reebok has the league.... i hope that it doesnt look as ugly as team USA's field uniforms (no offence to anyone but theyre ugly)"

[LongIslandLax]

Yes this increases the chance of a video game that I have been dieing 4.

[Lax4Ever]

There is already a video game in production. It was announced last year but there hasn't been any news on it since. Activision doesn't even have anything about it on their site.

[MinnetonkaLax]

i am a little frustrated that players wont be able to use the gear the want for the most part, but i still think that rbk with be good for the nll because finally some major companies are getting into lacrosse, and maybe theyll actually put out some quality gear, just my 2 cents

[ColtsLax]

the players can still use the gear the want, they jst have to put the logo on it.

Most players probally use MaxLax pads anyway, so that shouldnt be a big deal

And what about sticks, Rbk doesnt make them, so the players will use whatever they want, at least for the near future.

And as far as helmets, most players use the CCM with the STX/Oniel cage, so that wont be a big change.

Overall, not as drastic a move as warrior and the MLL. Plus RBK will sign some players and get some input from others, so i dont think that they will have the kind of controll that warrior does.

[nativeson]

It will hurt the minor companies in the sport like Brine, Warrior ect... who don't have the money RBK does which can't be good for the sport.

New Balance owns Warrior, and FYI - New Balance is pretty freakin huge.

What would be interesting is if Reebok purchases STX, Debeer, or Brine. There were some rumors a year or two ago that Brine ownership might be shopping the company. Just rumors but who knows. Is STX doing well financially? Now if Reebok purchases one of those companies then we will see some sparks fly.

Although --- we used to call Reebok --- Fleabok back in the day. Worst hoop shoes on the market at the time.

Now let's think REALLY BIG --- Nike gets involved.... now that's BIG :worship:

[Stonewall35]

And what about sticks, Rbk doesnt make them, so the players will use whatever they want, at least for the near future.

When it comes to sticks, players will likely be using the brand that their team is sponsored by (ex. Edmonton will use Brine, Calgary uses STX, Toronto uses Brine or Gait/deBeer).

[CTLaxer]

Excuse me for being rude, but anyone who thinks that this will kill off other lax companies and suppliers is flat out wrong and borderline ignorant/stupid. The NLL has 11 teams, with say 25 players per team. That's 275 players that may or may not have to use reebok made gear. Figure that 1 players worth of gear roughly costs $400 (just a guess) so that makes $110,000 that reebok is either making or withholding from other lacrosse companies due to the exclusive deal. Now, lets look at some rough figures on lacrosse in general, just in the united states. According to US Lacrosse (2004 figures here), there are 133,857 high school players. Use the same $400 per player and we get $53,542,800 in lacrosse equipment that are possible sales for other companies. In college we have roughly 23,162 players, same $400...we get $9,264,800 in sales for other companies that are possible. Youth lacrosse (15 and under) has roughly 186,048 which works out to about $74,419,200. For fun we'll add in post collegiate club players which works out to 8,635 and $3,454,000 respectively.

So, reebok is potentially withholding about $110,000 from other companies potential sales/endorsements. The rough total market in sales from my figures here is 140,680,800. Now, $110k out of $140million doesn't really seem like it's something everyone needs to get all in a huff about. My numbers are probably off by a lot, but even if they are, say by $40million, they still only have 1/1000th of the lacrosse market share. Mind you these are just numbers for the United States, Canada is a HUGE lacrosse market, as is australia and a handful of other countries. If you factor those in to the equation, it gets even MORE absurd. So, is this gonna make warrior, brine, stx, debeer, etc go out of business? In a word, NO!

So, everyone needs to relax and just enjoy the exposure that this kind of big name sponsorship can bring the sport of lacrosse.

[Chamoo]

Most players probally use MaxLax pads anyway, so that shouldnt be a big deal

And what about sticks, Rbk doesnt make them, so the players will use whatever they want, at least for the near future.

MaxLax hasn't ever made anything but goaltender equipment. Also, they are going to have heads, gloves, kidneys, helmets, and shoulder pads all ready for the season.

[laxgoalieking]

MaxLax hasn't ever made anything but goaltender equipment. Also, they are going to have heads, gloves, kidneys, helmets, and shoulder pads all ready for the season.
worng maxlax offers a complete line of players stuff including cages, and i doudbt they wil have a whole line of heads ready for training camps

[Chamoo]

worng maxlax offers a complete line of players stuff including cages, and i doudbt they wil have a whole line of heads ready for training camps

MaxLax has not made a mask so far, they have been made by other companies and branded as MaxLax masks. As for complete line of players stuff, the only thing they have produced are a one piece shoulder/kidney pad which isn't liked by any NLL players (I am told by some MSL players and a couple of NLL players) as everything is attached to one another. They have no gloves, seperate kidney pads, seperate shoulder pads, gloves, or slash guards available.

As for the equipment, sources say they will be ready before the beginning of the season as some lines are already in production apparently.

[laxgoalieking]

no maxlax sells and manufactures o'niel masks which are used by the majority of msl and nll players but it is illegal in minor.and they do offer slash gaurds.

[Chamoo]

MaxLax's site doesn't seem to offer anything about slash guards. And I have never seen MaxLax slash guards.

And MaxLax does not manufacter the masks, they helped design them, that's it. They got a one time fee for that. They aren't seen as MaxLax masks, though they could be used by RBK as the masks for the NLL.

[laxgoalieking]

they were designed by chief designer marty o'neil(former goaltender)marty started maxlax and i believe they sell them on www.goaliestore.com the maxlax site has been down for a while and only has the old stuff on there

[Chamoo]

The stuff on their site is the most recent stuff they have. I don't think it's very impressive, the things they do have.

[laxgoalieking]

what site are u refering to when u say "their site"? goaliesotre.com has it all and i personaly have the 100 unit and the new 2005 shin pads and they are the best i have played in. i now severl players that swaer by maxlax's player combo.

[Chamoo]

No NLL'ers or Junior players or Major Series players I know like MaxLax at all. As for their goalie equipment, I wouldn't be caught dead in their shins, I don't know about their uppers, but I'll keep my distance.

[laxgoalieking]

No NLL'ers or Junior players or Major Series players I know like MaxLax at all. As for their goalie equipment, I wouldn't be caught dead in their shins, I don't know about their uppers, but I'll keep my distance.
y there shins are as big as possibly allowed and they so confortable and sooooo protective

[Liv4LaX]

MaxLax has not made a mask so far, they have been made by other companies and branded as MaxLax masks. As for complete line of players stuff, the only thing they have produced are a one piece shoulder/kidney pad which isn't liked by any NLL players (I am told by some MSL players and a couple of NLL players) as everything is attached to one another. They have no gloves, seperate kidney pads, seperate shoulder pads, gloves, or slash guards available.

As for the equipment, sources say they will be ready before the beginning of the season as some lines are already in production apparently.

lol who do u know?

[fitzy_nb_11]

No NLL'ers or Junior players or Major Series players I know like MaxLax at all. As for their goalie equipment, I wouldn't be caught dead in their shins, I don't know about their uppers, but I'll keep my distance.
that's why a lot of goalies use maxlax right????

[Chamoo]

Not really alot, the only one I know of that wears it in the NLL is Eliuk who I admire as one of the top goalies in the NLL. Not very many goalies, even in Minor use MaxLax

[Stonewall35]

Not really alot, the only one I know of that wears it in the NLL is Eliuk who I admire as one of the top goalies in the NLL. Not very many goalies, even in Minor use MaxLax

From what I saw over the past number of years, most if not all goalies in the NLL either use MaxLax or Rebel shin pads; as well as MaxLax or Boddam chest protectors; not to mention MaxLax or STX pants. The way I see it, it has been split down the middle between in each line of equipment.

As for me, I'll try out any new gear whenever I see it. From my experience, I'll use anything from MaxLax, since I can get their gear custom made for myself. However, I have no problems switching back and forth between MaxLax and Rebel shin pads.

FYI Chamoo, are you from Ontario? The reason I think MaxLax isn't used as much in Ontario is because their equipment is made in BC and there are other manufacturers in Ontario (Rebel, STX, Boddam, Brown).

[RockfordAttack9]

Rbk already ruined the NHL, I hope it dosent happen to the Nll.

[slinkyspine]

Rbk already ruined the NHL, I hope it dosent happen to the Nll.

who are you kidding the Rbk line is amazing stuff. MY gaolie pads are the best i have ever had and there Rbk Premier. there lax stuff should be that good and id be reaally happy

[fitzy_nb_11]

Rbk already ruined the NHL, I hope it dosent happen to the Nll.
give me 5 reasons of why rbk has ruined the nhl and back them up too.

[laxgoalieking]

rbk hockey stuff is horrible there thin stif an way long, plus the look like something you buy at payless shoes buy 1 get 1 free sale. but with paul fricker and his boys making tgheir lax stuff it should be good quality but it there is no way it will be ready for the start of the season, my 2005 shinpads took 3 maonths to make

[turfburn]

can ya take a pic of your 2005 leg pads? Thanks

[b-waterlax]

i think it sounds good because lax will finally have a big sports co. sponser and more people will be able to see that it is just as or more fun to watch and play as other sports.