Report: UCLA, Under Armour drop dueling litigation over $280 million deal
After two years of legal drama, the saga between UCLA and the sportswear brand that used to outfit it, Under Armour, is reportedly over.
According to a report from City News Service, the Bruins and UA have dropped dueling litigation against each other. The legal fight began back in 2020 when the university sued the company alleging that UA wrongfully reneged on its $280 million sports apparel deal with the school and cited the pandemic.
The report states that a lawyer for the UC Regents acting on behalf of UCLA filed court papers with Santa Monica Superior Court Judge H. Jay Ford III asking that all litigation be dismissed without the possibility of a refiling. It’s unclear if a settlement was reached or what such a settlement would include, but lawyers in the case told the judge during a June hearing talks were in progress.
UCLA first filed suit against Under Armour in August 2020, seeking $200 million after the company backed out of what, at the time, was the most lucrative athletic apparel deal in collegiate athletics history. The university alleged that Under Armour backed out of the deal not because of the pandemic, but because of the company’s own financial issues. UCLA sued on the grounds of breach of contract, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and promissory estoppel.
After a judge rejected Under Armour’s motion to dismiss the suit in August of 2021, the company filed a countersuit against UCLA claiming the Bruins failed to provide marketing benefits during the suspension of college sports in 2020. Then, after outfitting the athletic department with some equipment during the 2020 season, Under Armour also alleged that UCLA’s “Stand Together” patches placed over the UA logo on its jerseys violated a separate agreement.
The Bruins are currently outfitted by Nike’s Jordan Brand as part of a six-year, $46.45 million deal that was announced in December of 2020. The difference in cash between the two played a key role in UCLA’s financial situation worsening in recent years.