Rawlings® Named as the Official Softball of NCAA Championships
Baseball's category leader extends expertise to softball
ST. LOUIS, Mo., June 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. a subsidiary of Newell Brands (NYSE: NWL), today announced its exclusive status with the NCAA® as the Official Softball of NCAA Championships effective for the 2017 through 2021 seasons.
In addition to the softball being used on-field during NCAA Championship play, the five-year agreement grants exclusive rights to Rawlings to promote, market and sell the NCAA Championship softball through its retail channels.
"As we expand our product portfolio to include softball equipment and apparel, we understand the importance of partnering with strong, established organizations such as the NCAA," said Mike Thompson, executive vice-president of marketing at Rawlings. "This strategic alliance reflects our shared commitment to providing high-quality and high-performance products that competitive softball athletes demand and deserve."
"Rawlings is a well-known company with an outstanding brand in the sports industry, and we're honored to have them affiliated with the NCAA Softball Championships through 2021," said Keith Martin, NCAA managing director of championships and alliances. "Providing our student-athletes with top notch products and strong affiliations is another way to enhance their overall championship and student-athlete experience. We are pleased that Rawlings will support the NCAA Softball Championships and our female student-athletes at the highest level of collegiate competition."
As the long-standing official baseball of both the NCAA and Major League Baseball®, Rawlings is an established leader in baseball manufacturing. The Rawlings development and engineering group has extensive experience with softball manufacturing having previously operated in conjunction with their sister company Worth Sports®.
This season the top Rawlings Softball Advisory Schools—University of Oklahoma, University of Tennessee, University of Notre Dame, Mississippi State University, Oregon State University, Penn State University and Georgia Technical Institute of Technology—used Rawlings Softball products as a preview of the line available for purchase this August.
About Rawlings
Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods worldwide. Founded in 1887, Rawlings is an authentic global sports brand, trusted by generations of athletes of all skill levels. Rawlings' unparalleled quality, innovative engineering and expert craftsmanship are the fundamental reasons why more professional athletes, national governing bodies and sports leagues choose Rawlings. Rawlings is the Official Ball Supplier and Batting Helmet of Major League Baseball®, the official baseball of Minor League Baseball™ and the NCAA®, and the approved baseball, basketball, football and softball of the National High School Federation®. For more information, please visit Rawlings.com or by phone at (314) 819-2800.
About Newell Brands
Newell Brands (NYSE: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including Paper Mate®, Sharpie®, Dymo®, EXPO®, Parker®, Elmer's®, Coleman®, Jostens®, Marmot®, Rawlings®, Irwin®, Lenox®, Oster®, Sunbeam®, FoodSaver®, Mr. Coffee®, Rubbermaid Commercial Products®, Graco®, Baby Jogger®, NUK®, Calphalon®, Rubbermaid®, Contigo®, First Alert®, Waddington and Yankee Candle®. Driven by a sharp focus on the consumer, leading investment in innovation and brands, and a performance-driven culture, Newell Brands helps consumers achieve more where they live, learn, work and play.
About the NCAA
The NCAA is a diverse association of more than 1,100 member colleges and universities that prioritize academics, well-being and fairness to create greater opportunities for nearly half a million student-athletes each year. The NCAA provides a pathway to higher education and beyond for student-athletes pursuing academic goals and competing in NCAA sports. More than 54,000 student-athletes experience the pinnacle of intercollegiate athletics by competing in NCAA championships each year. Visit ncaa.org and ncaa.com for more details about the Association and the corporate partnerships that support the NCAA and its student-athletes.
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SOURCE Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc.
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