Kappa nets groundbreaking British basketball deal

Italian sportswear brand Kappa has agreed a deal to become the exclusive apparel sponsor of the British Basketball League, the Women’s Basketball League and Great Britain’s men’s, women’s and junior national teams.

The initial three-year deal with the British Basketball governing body will become effective at the start of the 2016-17 season and will run until the end of the 2018-19 campaign. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Kappa will supply sportswear, tracksuits, playing jerseys, training kits and leisurewear for BBL and WBBL clubs, as well as Great Britain’s national teams. The deal marks the first all-encompassing agreement between the three organisations.

Bob Hope, commercial director of BBL, WBBL and GB Basketball, said: “This is a significant development towards uniting the sport under one brand. Kappa is a relatively new brand to the basketball community in the UK, but it is well-known and respected internationally, with partnerships such as Argentina national team, Le Mans Sarthe Basket and Tango Bourges to name but a few.”

Kappa UK managing director Mark Ward added: “We have been operating in our brand new UK office since 2014 and are keen to increase our market penetration in all team sports such as football, rugby and other major sports. Our agreement with British basketball is another positive step towards achieving this goal.”