Korean organisation T1 has announced sports apparel giant Nike as its exclusive apparel partner.
The deal will see Nike design uniforms for all of T1’s rosters, including its team in the LCK.
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Joe Marsh, CEO of T1 discussed the partnership in a release: “Partnering with Nike marks a historical moment in our organization’s history as we work to transcend esports and further cement T1’s position as a global brand. Together we are thrilled to bring innovation to the next level through Nike’s premier training programs and performance wear that will help maximize our players’ potential and strengthen the longevity of their careers. Nike is renowned for supporting elite athletes of all types and we are excited to collaborate on apparel for our teams and fans to celebrate T1 in every corner of the world.”
Nike will provide “cutting-edge training facilities” at T1’s headquarters in Seoul, which is set to open in 2020, to aid in “empowering” the organisation’s players. It will also create training programs, including both physical and mental strength, for the players to go through.
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Brant Hirst, Marketing Director at Nike Korea commented on the decision: “We’re interested in understanding and learning more about the relationship between improved physical fitness and athleticism as it relates to gaming. These athletes have unique skill sets that we believe we can help them improve through tailored training methods.”
In 2019, Nike established two long-term partnerships in esports. It joined forces with TJ Sports to supply the LPL with kits for four years in February and followed that up in July by partnering with Brazilian organisation FURIA.
Esports Insider says: Seeing Nike continue its exploration into esports is a good sign, especially when it comes to the performance of players and how it can be enhanced through means used in traditional sports. Having Nike as a major partner can only be a good thing, you’d imagine.