Update From July 2020: Who Will Become AS Roma's New Kit Maker? New Balance Now Clear Favorites, Castore Deal Impossible For Us
Update: The decision about the new AS Roma kit maker to replace Nike from the 2021-22 season is soon to be made. Compared to July 2020, there is now one big favorite to become the team's new kit maker - New Balance.
Castore's offer is nothing Roma will take into serious consideration
British sportswear brand Castore brought themselves into the race. However, their offer is nothing Roma will take in serious consideration - they small brand does not offer a high fixed sum but just a "a digital-focused approach, allowing the club to reach a wider audience and grow their brand internationally."
New Balance offers a traditional contract with a fixed sum
For us, it remains the brand's secret how they can grow the Roma brand - they are much smaller than the club, who are well-known for their great digital appearance in the social media game. New Balance, in contrast, offers a traditional contract with a fixed sum.
July 2020 - Talks Started With Kappa? Who Will Become AS Roma's New Kit Maker?
On Thursday, 16 July 2020, AS Roma and Nike announced that they have terminated their partnership and technical sponsorship agreement in advance. Nike will leave the club after the end of the 2020-2021 season - we evaluate what are the different options for AS Roma.
New AS Roma Kit Maker Replacing Nike - Kappa Most Likely Option For Us
As of today, there is no clear sign who will become AS Roma's new kit manufacturer. However, we think that there are not too many options, with various brands that can be dropped out.
For us, there are four brands that are most likely to become Roma's new jersey maker. You can see them below in the order of (our predicted) possibility of the deal.
Possible New AS Roma Kit Makers
- Kappa - Possibility 35%: made Roma's kits until 2012-13 when they broke up their ties similar as with Nike in 2020
- New Balance - Possibility 20%: New Balance lost Celtic and Liverpool - they could have some free sponsorship money
- Puma - Possibility 15%: Never made Roma's kits but signed many teams in recent years
- Adidas - Possibility 15%: Adidas recently signed Celtic and a few other teams
- Another Brand / In-House - Possibility 15%: There are not really any other big brands on the table currently
In fact, according to Italian Roma kit expert @Forza27_RS, Kappa and AS Roma would have already spoken about a possible new partnership. Talks would have been "still at an early stage & there will be other manufacturers worth considering, but Kappa & Roma could be back on the cards".
I have it from a source that #Kappa & #ASRoma have spoken about a possible new partnership. Still at an early stage & there will be other manufacturers worth considering, but Kappa & Roma could be back on the cards.
— Forza27 (@Forza27_RS) July 16, 2020
AS Roma has been sponsored by all major brands in their club history despite Puma. In the 2013-14 season, AS Roma even made their kits in-house before they signed with Nike for the 2014-15 season.
AS Roma's kits featured no kit manufacturer logo until 1980, when Playground became the club's new kit maker.
You can check out old AS Roma's kits on Football Kit Archive
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