HICKORY, N.C. – After inking an initial five-year deal in 2016, Lenoir-Rhyne Athletics and Under Armour have agreed to a five-year contract extension through 2026. Custom Design Group (CDG) will continue to serve as the official team dealer of LR Athletic gear in partnership with Under Armour.
"We are excited for the opportunity to extend our agreement with Under Armour and we look forward to expanding on the great partnership we have with CDG," said
Kim Pate, Vice President for Athletics. "Our Bears recruits, student-athletes, coaches, and fans appreciate the high quality, performance, and great design elements that the UA product is known for."
Under Armour and Custom Design Group combine to outfit all Lenoir-Rhyne University teams from head to toe in top-performing Under Armour gear. The partnership also provides unprecedented access to official Lenoir-Rhyne athletic apparel to fans, students, alumni and the community. Custom Design Group handles all embellishment of apparel and uniforms in house while offering custom design work for both teams and fans. The duo combines to provide a unique all-access customer experience for the entire LR community to benefit from ease of access through custom purchasing online (
lrwear.com), in person at CDG's retail store located a half-mile from campus and on-site at every home football game along with select events throughout the year with pop-up stores.
"We have something really special and unique in this partnership because CDG doesn't just invest and supply UA gear to our athletic programs and fans, but by being a local business they are also invested in the success of our broader campus and local community. They work tirelessly to support our teams while providing unparalleled service and access to exclusive LR Athletics gear that our alumni, fans, parents, and community all want to wear. We appreciate the visionary leadership of Rich & Kristen Stober, as together we've pioneered a new community-based team dealer model that benefits everyone."
Under Armour and Custom Design Group positions the LR brand to expand its reach and exposure by offering exclusive team stores, providing customized gifts for donors, ease of access for point of sale, unique fan discounts, great customer service, and so much more. The combination of UA & CDG has elevated both the student-athlete & fan experience to the next level and helped propel Lenoir-Rhyne to the top echelon of Division II programs.
"CDG is blessed, humbled and proud to continue our relationship with LR and UA. Dr. Whitt,
Kim Pate and the entire University's staff work so hard to make the environment at LR the best student-athlete experience in all of college sports. The partnership with Under Armour supports this best in class vision in many ways, but is highlighted by the fact that the national UA brand supports a Division II private university with premier products and services that are unrivaled at any level," added CDG President Rich Stober. "The reward to all is that the LR student-athletes achieve greatness on and off the field which allows them to go on to become champions in life."
The LR brand, as well as Under Armour, have each seen significant growth in the Unifour area in large part due to this unique partnership. You can find out a little more about each partner below.
About CDG: Custom Design Group is online at
lrwear.com and has a physical store next to campus at the address 391 10th Ave Dr NE, Hickory, NC 28601. CDG is the leading source for custom apparel and accessories prioritizing customization, quick turnaround, quality products, and competitive pricing. They are driven by the goal of helping you, your team, school, organization, or business - make YOUR statement. Whether you are stepping onto the court or into an office, they are there to complete your head-to-toe presentation.
About UA: Under Armour is online at
underarmour.com and have various physical stores throughout the US. Under Armour's mission is to make all athletes better through science, passion and the relentless pursuit of innovation.
