New York—Franklin Sports, a leading provider of sports equipment, and Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a global character-based entertainment licensing company, have announced a licensing agreement to develop a collection of high quality sporting goods featuring Marvel’s legendary Super Heroes. The announcement was made on behalf of Franklin president Larry J. Franklin and Marvel Entertainment’s President of Consumer Products for North America Paul Gitter.
The Marvel products created by Franklin will include a wide-variety of sports including baseball, basketball, boxing, football, hockey, soccer, tennis and indoor and outdoor games featuring Marvel Classic properties and upcoming feature films from Marvel Studios such as Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger and The Avengers. Initial product will be available to consumers for the holiday season in 2011.
“We are proud to team with Marvel Entertainment to produce sports products featuring their beloved characters,†said Larry J. Franklin. “Marvel Super Heroes complement our existing entertainment licenses and give us the sporting goods industry’s most powerful entertainment program. Kids and adults alike will be delighted with the new and exciting products that we plan to introduce.â€
Gitter added, “Franklin Sports is a renowned name in the sporting goods industry and we felt they could create an exciting collection inspired by our Super Heroes. This partnership enables Marvel to expand into key retail distribution channels and we look forward to product rolling out later this year.â€
About Franklin Sports
Franklin Sports, founded in 1946 and located in Stoughton, Massachusetts, has been the provider of sports equipment for almost 65 years. Franklin Sports is a well-known and respected worldwide brand of sports equipment, including the batting glove of choice for more than 150 Major Leaguers. Franklin offers creative and innovative products for all who enjoy sports — from professional athletes to kids who aspire to be their best. Franklin Sports is the maker of the official batting glove of Major League Baseball which is worn by many of the world’s finest hitters. Last year, for the first time in its history, both MVP awards were won by players who wore Franklin gloves. Joey Votto of the Reds in the National League, and the Rangers Josh Hamilton in the American League, wear the Franklin batting glove. In addition to the Marvel partnership, Franklin has similar relationships with Disney, Nickelodeon, and Hasbro.
About Marvel Entertainment, LLC
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit www.marvel.com. Super Hero(es) is a co-owned registered trademark.
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