Under Armour Spurs Kit Launch Event
Under Armour announced their arrival in the Premier League in impressive style! At an exclusive launch event in Shoreditch London, selected media gathered as Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank unveiled the new Tottenham Hotspur kit alongside star players and new signings Jan Vertonghen, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Kyle Walker, Michael Dawson and Brad Friedel...
SoccerBible was in attendance to bring our fans the best of the action with comprehensive photography of the event, including a Q A with new star signing Jan Vertonghen, who we might just add informed us wearing the UA gear is like running around naked!!!
The world's media descended on a secret location in London, entering an old warehouse we were greeted by what can only be described as an homage to Under Armour and Tottenham Hotspur. The brick and corrugated iron walls were decorated with various imagery, light shows and equipment, although to maintain the air of mystery there was no sight of the new kits anywhere.
Under Armour were getting their key messaging across of football heritage meets performance, showing iconic imagery of Spurs through the ages, along with giant hero imagery of the current stars. And after introductions the media were called to the stage area for the official unveiling.
Founder and CEO of Under Armour, Kevin Plank kicked off proceedings statin "Today is a defining moment for the Under Armour brand as we debut our new kits for Tottenham Hotspur". A former University of Maryland football player, Kevin was sporting a leg brace following a recent sporting injury, but continued: "Tottenham has a tremendous heritage and a passion for winning that makes them the perfect match for our brand. This partnership will introduce millions of football fans around the world to our innovative performance apparel, footwear and accessories that are designed to help all athletes perform better."
Under Amour had kept under wraps which Tottenham players might be attending, and rumours had spread we might see Jan Vertonghen despite him only completing his medical that morning. Emerging from a darkened cloud of smoke, five figures appeared on stage to unveil the 2012/13 Tottenham Hotspur kits, and it's fair to say Under Amour nailed the show as they not only had Jan Vertonghen but Gylfi Sigurdsson also.
Joining the new signings on stage were Michael Dawson, Kyle Walker and Brad Friedel. Style and classic colours combined for the new home, away and keepers kits which received a warm reception from the media, but of course Under Armour were proud to reveal their innovative technology. As the troop of players left the stage, UA endorsed athlete Michael Dawson remained to model and talk through the new tech and Spurs kits.
Put on the spot (in front of the company CEO!), Michael Dawson said of the new kit: "There's been a lot of technology go into it, a lot of work and a lot of communication from the players. It looks good, it feels good, now we've just got to go out and play well".
With the assistance of Matt Mirchin, Under Armour Senior Vice President Of Sports Marketing, we were given a run-down on the new Tottenham players shirt. Constructed with thin stretch-woven Under Armour Heatgear technology, the shirts are a close fit for optimal moisture management, breathability and performance. Featuring mesh insets to enhance ventilation on the side panels, and a fully perforated cockerel on the back panel for optimal heat dumping.
Next it was media time for the players, and we were fortunate enough to sit down with Tottenham's latest star signing Jan Vertonghen. Of course, as a defender Jan is looking forward to testing himself week-in-week out against the world's best footballers, but conversation quickly turned to football boots...
"They are one of the most important things in football, they have to fit like you have nothing on your feet, it is the most important thing in football together with your kit. I played all my life in adidas and it's a perfect fit for me, I'm happy with the shoes."
Talking about the new Tottenham Hotspur kits for what will be Jan's debut season in the Premier League, and things got a little x-rated! "I like the shirt and also the training kit is amazing, it feels very light and for me it's the first time wearing Under Armour and it feels amazing. It's like you're naked you know, so I'm running around the field like I'm in my bathroom"!
We're pretty sure that's an endorsement! So overall it was a great event and a great way for Under Armour to introduce themselves to the Premier League, we're sure we're going to be seeing a lot more from the brand in the future of football.
You can take a full and up-close look at the new Under Armour Tottenham Hotspur 2012-13 football kits here. And as always, we'd love to hear you opinions on the new kit, the launch event and Tottenham's new signings. Share your thoughts online, on Twitter and on Facebook.
