Penn State finalizes $300 million switch from Nike to Adidas

On July 1, Penn State University ended its 33‑year partnership with Nike and signed a new 10‑year agreement with Adidas valued at roughly $300 million. The transition required sorting more than 150,000 pieces of athletic gear—including 6,500 pairs of shoes—across 31 varsity teams. Over 250 staff members logged about 11,000 hours in meetings, photo shoots and logistics to replace Nike branding with Adidas’ three‑stripe identity on equipment, apparel, and campus facilities.

Assistant athletic director for equipment operations Ben Herman described the effort as “organized chaos,” while athletic director Pat Kraft noted the challenge of ensuring no remaining Nike logos remain visible as fall sports commence.

The deal marks a major shift in the university’s sports apparel landscape, affecting athletes, staff and the broader Penn State community.