League Quietly Allows Practice Jersey Sponsorships

In late March, reports surfaced that the league was considering the possibility of selling discreet corporate sponsorships to team practice jerseys. The rule had not yet been adopted; apparently, it was during last month’s league meetings. According to the Houston Chronicle, the Texans already are attempting to line up companies who’ll fork over cash for the privilege of sponsoring the 3.5-to-4.5-inch patch on the shirts worn by the team while on the practice field. “It’s a rare opportunity for somebody to gain massive exposure for their brand and align so closely with the Texans persona,” team president Jamey Rootes told Megan Manfull of the Chronicle. “To be able to do those two things looks like a great way to create value for our partners and create revenue for our franchise.” And Rootes suggests -- as we surmised in March -- that this is the “first step” toward what in time could be corporate logos appearing on game-day uniforms. “In the National Football League, we are calculated and measured in our evolution of things as it relates to the on-field product,” Rootes said. “This is a first step. At an appropriate time, there will be a good bit of discussion and debate and recapping the experience, and then whatever the next step will be I’m sure will be carefully thought out.” It’s possible, however, that the market is sssslow for such opporunities. If the league indeed approved the measure during the May meetings in Florida, the fact that no team already has done a deal is telling -- especially since (by all appearances) the Patriots and Redskins already had arrangements made for partnerships with purveyors of scratch-and-lose lottery tickets, a revenue-generating device that also was approved at the same meetings.