The Boston Celtics announced a multi-year jersey patch partnership with e-commerce company Vistaprint. It could be the first of many in the NBA over the coming months with several teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans fresh off their previous deals.
Teams have generated upwards of $150 million in revenue from the NBA’s patch program, which debuted in 2017-18. Before the coronavirus pandemic, it was estimated patch sponsorship revenue might increase “roughly 30%.”
Pandemic Effect: Former Anheuser-Busch executive Tony Ponturo recently said teams could see a 20% drop in patch value due to COVID-19. Some teams in major markets might be able to hold value, while others might be better off waiting a season to ink long-term deals. Previous deals were valued at between $5 million to $20 million annually.
