Major Sportswear Manufacture is Refusing to Work With Gary Bettman and The NHL

The decision by Nike not to bid for the NHL's jersey rights did not come as a surprise to those familiar with Gary Bettman's leadership of the league. Nike reportedly declined the opportunity due to unfavorable profit margins, as indicated in Ali Murji's report. As a result, Fanatics won the rights to produce NHL jerseys, a decision that left many fans disappointed.

Interestingly, Nike already holds uniform rights for major sports leagues such as the NFL, NBA, and MLB, and is also the uniform supplier for the top 25 IIHF teams. This suggests that the company is not averse to working in the hockey industry, but has specifically chosen not to do business with the NHL.

This latest development is another blow to Gary Bettman's reputation as the NHL commissioner, which has already faced criticism and controversy during his tenure.