The Chicago Cubs, accusing Baltimore-based Under Armour of reneging on a $10.8 million, five- year sponsorship agreement, is suing the athleticwear maker, according to reports.
In a complaint filed last week in U.S. District Court in Chicago, the ball club said Under Armour agreed in principle to the deal and is still using Cubs players and the team’s stadium, Wrigley Field, in advertisements for its products.
Under Armour told the Cubs in a Dec. 12 letter it wouldn’t sponsor them for the next season and “would not meet any of its obligations under the agreement,” according to the team’s complaint, which seeks full payment of the contract price.
Two years ago, the team and Under Armour announced an agreement that allowed the clothing maker to become the first sponsor to place ads on two 7-foot-by-12-foot doors set into the ballpark’s ivy-covered left- and right-field walls.
No new agreement was signed, Steve Battista, vice president of marketing for Under Armour, said in an e-mailed statement.
“Under Armour entered into a three-year agreement with the previous management of the Chicago Cubs for a comprehensive marketing package that included the exclusive signage on Wrigley Field,” Battista said. “This past summer the Cubs new management sent us a letter terminating the agreement after the second year. Unfortunately, we were unable to agree upon terms for a new deal.”
