The Penn Relays, JMI Sports, and NIKE, Inc. have announced an agreement that makes Nike the exclusive athletic footwear and apparel supplier and sponsor of the Penn Relays through the 2020 Olympiad.
“Penn Athletics is delighted to announce Nike’s significant and continuing sponsorship of the Penn Relays,” said Dr. M. Grace Calhoun, Director of Athletics and Recreation at Penn. “We are glad to have a valued partner in Nike for this great event through the next Olympics.”
As has been the case in recent years, Nike will have a significant presence at The Relays around the track as well as a retail sales location in the Carnival Village. Nike also will be the Race Sponsor of the High School Boys’ and Girls’ 3000 meter races, and the High School Boys’ and Girls’ mile races.
The 2017 Penn Relays will take place April 27-29 at Franklin Field on the University of Pennsylvania campus. For more information on this year’s event go to ThePennRelays.com.
“As the largest and most historic relay carnival in the world, The Penn Relays continues to be the big stage for scholastic, collegiate and Olympic level track and field stars,” said Roger Reina, Senior Associate Athletic Director/External Affairs. “To align with the Nike brand delivers a powerful combination.”
Nike has long had a major presence at the Penn Relays. Nike works closely with the sport’s national governing body, USA Track & Field (USATF), to bring some of the top athletes in the world to compete in the USA vs. the World’s events held on Saturday of the Penn Relays and broadcast live on NBCSN.
“Since the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Nike athletes have won more Olympic medals than athletes representing any other sponsor,” said Dave Johnson, the Frank Dolson Director of Penn Relays. “Many of those same athletes have run at the Penn Relays during the past 20 years, and we are thrilled to renew our partnership with the preeminent footwear and apparel outfitter in the sport.”
“We are thrilled to have Nike return as a major sponsor of the Penn Relays,” said George Perry, chief revenue officer for Penn Sports Properties powered by JMI Sports. “In addition to bringing some of the best athletes to compete in this historic event, their presence in the Carnival Village is always a fan favorite. We truly appreciate Nike’s support over the years, and we look forward to working together for many years to come.”
About Penn Relays
Founded in 1895 and officially named The Penn Relay Carnival, the relays gained recognition as the world’s first and largest track and field relay meet and is the nation’s longest uninterrupted collegiate meet. The event has drawn top high school, college and world-class athletes from around the globe and has been the scene of numerous American and world records. More athletes compete in the three days of the Penn Relays, than compete over two weeks in the entire Summer Olympic Games in all sports. Over 200 athletes from more than 35 countries competed at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, whose spotlight on the world stage took them through the Penn Relays. The 2017 edition will once again bring the top athletes from around the globe as the next generation of superstars look to make their mark at Franklin Field. 2016 marked the 13th-straight year the Penn Relays had more than 100,000 spectators watch the world’s greatest athletes in competition.
About NIKE, Inc.
NIKE, Inc., based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly owned NIKE, Inc. subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories; and Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes surf and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, Nike’s earnings releases and other financial information are available at http://investors.nike.com. Individuals can also visit http://news.nike.com/ and follow @Nike
