The NBA to slowly NASCAR-ify itself by putting ads on All-Star jerseys
In a move that’s been a long time coming, the NBA will officially sell out fabric space by putting ads on the front of its 2016 and 2017 All-Star jerseys. The Wall Street Journal reports that the league is planning to put a 3.25-inch-by-1.6-inch patch with a Kia logo on the upper left chest of the in-game jerseys, as well as jerseys available for retail sale. The arrangement comes out of a provision for sponsored jersey patches in a deal that was negotiated last year between the league and Turner Sports, the broadcast rights holder to the All-Star Game. Although it’s common in European soccer leagues and NASCAR, this is the first time one of the four major American sports will have a non-apparel brand logo appear on one of its game uniforms.