Brine Getting Bough Out by New Balance?

[lacrossefanatic]

Today, while watching Virginia dismantle Drexel on Drexel's home field, I overheard two guys next to me talking about how brine's sells were going downhill, specifically that they were not selling their gloves. They then discussed how new balance is taking an interest in buying them, thus, leaving the competition to stx, new balance (who also bought warrior) and the new member of the club reebok.


So, although I hate to gossip, I had to confirm with you guys whether brine is on the verge of being bought out. I know the possibility is most probable and the conditions help make it so.

On a side note: I'm amazed at how quickly companies have changed the face of lacrosse. Although fierce competition has always been present, we're beginning to see major monopolization of the sport. Not supprisingly this occurs as lacrosse ratings rise.

[ColtsLax]

Brine/Warrior conglomerate? That sound interesting, especially after the whole Powell deal. id be interested in knowing more.

[Brandon303]

It definately could happen, with New Balance making the Warrior cleats and all, they are clearly interested in the lacrosse market. I guess all we can do is wait and see.

[ghs/wylax]

brine makes great stuff but everyone buys warrior :nono:

[gfgoalie28]

I don't see how Brine sales could be down. I think they're the biggest college sponsor. Although, paying all the salaries for the Brine R&D team could be a factor.

[lacrossefanatic]

Well for example at the virginia vs drexel game I watched every one had warrior heads. All I saw were evo pros and razers. And some torques. Brine might be doing okay, but they are a long shot from being on warriors standard.

[OldGoalie]

I'm not sure I see the point. Why would you want two competing lacrosse equipment lines? I can see the benefit of aquiring Brine's talent/R&D team and a few of their designs, but I'm sure they could be had for less than the cost of acquiring the whole company, all its overhead, etc.

[Palmettolax45]

that weird i just got a college letter from Drexel, I think it would be pretty cool to go to college in Philli is Drexel a good lax college. sorry i know its off topic

I think it would suck for them to join together because then we wont get the same veriety as we get now

[gfgoalie28]

I can see Brine being bought out, but not by New Balance. If someone buy's them, I'm willing to bet it's Nike.

[mrboarderman]

I'm not sure I see the point. Why would you want two competing lacrosse equipment lines? I can see the benefit of aquiring Brine's talent/R&D team and a few of their designs, but I'm sure they could be had for less than the cost of acquiring the whole company, all its overhead, etc.


It is sort of like Nike buying Bauer in the hockey world.

What happens is it essentially creates two stronger companies. Things can be made cheaper, therefore cheaper for the consumers. It all helps in cutting costs.

Now for all of you that hate big business, unfortunately for you, that is what happens in all popular sports. However, the upside is the development of the sport which is a great thing for everyone.

[Orange]

Brine definitely sponsors more college teams than Warrior does, but that doesn't stop the players from using their own Warrior heads or anything.

[irishlaxburger2]

Monopoly anyone?

[eastlaxman02]

I find that very hard to believe with all the popularity that powell has brine doesnt make enough money


is the powell line directly afiliated with brine? do they share sales?

[WickedDpole21]

i think that the new flights should really help their sales. this is the first real glove mainly(not totally) geared toward dmen. i think that will get sales over he gloves of other companies. like if i were to buy new gloves today, id get flights.

but wow, that would be a shocker and STX would be in trouble.

[sglaxr009]

ive seen quite a few college teams sponsered by STX and Brine. i havt seen a warrior sponsered team besides OSU.

[irishlaxburger2]

Princeton is sponsored by Warrior. They also have rights to the MLL which gives them a huge boost

[shiftylax]

Brine is owned by an ownership group. That makes it a lot tougher to buy them. That being said, I don't think NB has the capital to make the purchase, or the interest since they already own warrior. Remember Brine isn't just a lacrosse company. Maybe they considered it at one time. Thsi sint the first time i have heard a rumour like this. A more LIKELY scenario is a bigger company coming in and buying Brine or STX - someone like Nike - and making Brine their lacrosse brand. Brine would not be an easy company to acquire, so it's more than lliekly just talk at this point.

[RockStar]

It is sort of like Nike buying Bauer in the hockey world.

What happens is it essentially creates two stronger companies. Things can be made cheaper, therefore cheaper for the consumers. It all helps in cutting costs..........

???

When has Nike entering a sports market made anything cheaper?

Nike's own costs may get lower when they move production to Malaysia or Pakistan, or wherever, but the end user price at the retailer doesn't seem to drop. In fact, that damned swoosh usually makes everything more expensive

[OldGoalie]

It is sort of like Nike buying Bauer in the hockey world.

What happens is it essentially creates two stronger companies. Things can be made cheaper, therefore cheaper for the consumers. It all helps in cutting costs.
.

Hmmm, I still don't see that as the motivation behind NB buying Brine, or Nike buying Bauer. Companies buy brands when they have a gap in their market offering, not to compete with an existing offering. Essentially they would be buying products that compete with eachother for limited shelf space. This doesn't make much sense. And as others have pointed out, buying another company doesn't typically result in cost savings to the consumer; usually it's the opposite.

[jory]

Most companies try to get interests in on other sports, even Warrior has tried a division in hockey.

http://www.warriorhockey.com/WarriorHockey.html

[Falconsmikevick]

oh great, professionals using XP3s....

[johnboy16]

I like warrior lacrosse, but they cheated there way into hockey, warrior just bought out innovative, but that's buisness for you

[laxpro]

MLL using Brine, Warrior, and New Blance?

I like the thought of that...very interesting.

[stegmakk]

As Shifty has said...HIGHLY doubtful
Maybe if Nike got into bed with Brine...

Even IF it were true...the only reason I would see would be to kill competition and gain market share...
They would not keep both Warrior AND Brine going...

[WHEELAX2]

this is def. talk from people who think they know what's going on.. the guys talking probably don't even know that NB owns Warrior.. they may have heard the NB/lacrosse cross over and used their "arm chair" knowledge to somehow determine that NB and Brine were somehow working something out..

[Cburylax]

I'll add some more fuel to the fire just cause I'm in the retail business and its fun to keep it going......I've heard from sales reps that the deal should be made in the next two weeks and that New Balance and Reebok are frontrunners. We'll soon see.....

[quickslick444]

Stx is in some deep crap if this is true. Which isnt a bad thing

[Lax4Ever]

I just don't see it happening. Brine is a pretty big company that covers a bunch of sports. I could see stx being bought but I still doubt that stx will sell for a while. It would be dumb for any company to sell in the next 5 years. The sport is going to grow a lot in the next few years and their worth is going to go up a lot as well. It would have to be one amazing deal to make a company sell.

[rjattack19]

NOOOOO!!!!...if this is true prices will skyrocket

[_SLY_]

^^this is based on what knowledge??

[EphLaxPH28]

I heard this too.. A guy at our local store said it was happening, he heard it from his Brine rep that warrior/new balance was trying to buy out Brine. Warrior/ New Balance is looking for a way into soccer & field hockey, and Brine has rights to both sports.

[i live 4 lax]

hmmm somehow i doubt it. did you see all the college teams with flights and exodus's? duke is outfitted head-to-toe with brine stuff. i think its just hearsay, i could be wrong though.

[gigo567]

Does Ekeown still visit the forum, I bet he could answer this.

[rjattack19]

^^this is based on what knowledge??

this is based on the fact that the less brands the less competition...which means that the companys could put the prices as high as they plzed...take a look at gas, if there were 100,000 gas companies then gas would be cheaper because the companies would be competing with one another...but if there were only 1 or 2 companies then u would be forced to pay there rediculas(sp?)demands...oh and one more thing....OWN3D!!!...lol

[snafoo]

Actually Brine has been on the 'for sale' market for a while now. I have heard about this idea before NB bought Warrior, from someone high up at Warrior so it is definitely a possibility. The concept would be to keep the Brine name but more so as a medium range line, while using Warrior for the top of the line stuff. I'll see if i can some more exact information. Stegmakk - actually it would make more sense to keep both going due to the brand recognition and consumer loyalty. Maybe in the long run they would phase Brine out, but I don't think that would happen for at least a couple of years/

[lacrosse19]

I like warrior lacrosse, but they cheated there way into hockey, warrior just bought out innovative, but that's business for you


cheated? what are you talking about? they bought out one of the best stick manufactures in the game! who makes all of bauer, nike, hespeler? easton copied everything they have from innovative. when the company didn't want to go to the retail market they were bought out by warrior...personally warrior lacrosse and reebok lacrosse are the hottest companies in hockey right now!

[Lax4Ever]

It makes sence if warrior wants to get into some other sports. Anyone know the reasoning for brine going up for sale?
If brine is bought out, would warrior then own the patent on things such as offsets? Or would they have to buy that seperatly?

[RichWutLax]

i dont like new balance all that much ...if it was on a scale from 1-10 it would be -1

[gigo567]

i dont like new balance all that much ...if it was on a scale from 1-10 it would be -1
For me I would give them a 9 :thumbsup: I have flat feet and when I run my feet hurt and I have to wear orthotics to keep them from hurting, but when I wear New Balances without orthotics my feet don't hurt :drool: .
I love NB for sports.

[laxer26]

this is based on the fact that the less brands the less competition...which means that the companys could put the prices as high as they plzed...take a look at gas, if there were 100,000 gas companies then gas would be cheaper because the companies would be competing with one another...but if there were only 1 or 2 companies then u would be forced to pay there rediculas(sp?)demands...oh and one more thing....OWN3D!!!...lol

your grasp of economics is not very good, so dont talk about it. prices will only go as high as the market will bear. if you dont want the prices on lax equipment to go up, dont buy the expensive stuff. otherwise, shut it.