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Texas Tech football season starts Aug. 31. What's the status of agreement with adidas?
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- Texas Tech football season starts Aug. 31. What's the status of agreement with adidas?
The Texas Tech football team unveiled new uniforms on July 1, and additional Tech teams did the same over the ensuing days. Texas Tech tried to bring as much fanfare as possible to its agreement with adidas to become the athletics department's official apparel provider.
More than seven weeks later, attorneys for the two sides are still working to finalize the contract.
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"Getting very close," Tech athletics director Kirby Hocutt said Friday. "There's going to be a number of adidas representatives on campus (this) week for the (Red Raider Club) kickoff luncheon, as well as our celebration and gratitude event bringing closure to the Campaign for Fearless Champions.
"We've got time scheduled to sit down and hopefully get the last few remaining items finalized and get signatures on the contract, so not yet (completed). No issues. Just again, combing through some fine language on the long-form agreement and anticipate getting done hopefully (this) week when there's a large contingent of adidas leadership on campus."
Related: What do Texas Tech players, coaches think of adidas as new apparel provider?
Related: How Patrick Mahomes II, Joey McGuire worked with adidas to bring Texas Tech football a new look
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Tech's previous contract with Under Armour expired on June 30, and the athletics department heavily publicized the switch to adidas the next day. Under Armour had been with Tech since 2006 and its official supplier since 2009.
Even without a signed contract, Tech sports teams are using adidas gear in practice and, in the case of the soccer team, an exhibition match and last week's season opener at Penn State.
"There's been a number of red-line agreements go back and forth," Hocutt said. "Again, nothing I'm concerned about whatsoever. Nothing of significant disagreement. Just a lot of small fine-tune things that have to be agreed to."
Hocutt has said previously the deal will be for a decade.
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The Red Raider Club kickoff luncheon is Thursday at the Memorial Civic Center with doors opening at 11:15 a.m. and the program scheduled for about noon.
Tech is hosting a private event Friday for donors in recognition of the Campaign for Fearless Champions, the decade-long initiative used to fund and build numerous sports facilities and related amenities on campus. Tech soon will complete a new south end zone building and visitors' locker room at Jones AT&T Stadium and the Dustin R. Womble Football Center just south of the stadium.
Texas Tech athletics on July 1 began a 10-year, $59.25 million contract with adidas to become its official supplier for uniforms, shoes and apparel.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: As Texas Tech football opener nears, what's status of adidas contract?
