UFC official sponsor BodyArmor is receiving an influx of case thanks to soft drink maker Coca Cola. It is buying a stake in BodyArmor making it the second-biggest stakeholder in the company.
The deal, according to the Wall Street Journal, allows Coca-Cola to take a full ownership of the startup company which lists Kobe Bryant as one of its backers. Bryant’s invested $6 million in the company in 2014 and since the acquisition by Coca-Cola, the former NBA champ’s shares are now worth $200 million. UFC bantamweight Cody Garbrandt is also a sponsor of the drink.
Coca-Cola’s investment in BodyArmor is an attempt to cut into PepsiCo-owned Gatorade’s dominance in the market. It sells its sports drink as healthier and recruited younger athletes to appeal to the demo.
The deal with the UFC is one of the tactics in which it seeks to promote the drink to a younger demo.
The WSJ states that the U.S. sports drink market is about $8 billion in with Gatorade having about ¾ of the market. BodyArmor is expected to have about $400 million in revenue this year and could be valued between $1-$2 billion.
Payout Perspective:
The sponsorship deal between BodyArmor and the UFC seems to be a good match in terms of growth. The Official Sports Drink of the UFC is looking toward international distribution and we could look to see its signage in the cage for overseas event. It is also seeking to grab a foothold in the younger demo and sponsoring UFC events should help with its visibility and promotion. If Coca-Cola were to attain full ownership, it would benefit BodyArmor and perhaps lure the brand to the UFC.
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