Maize school district, Under Armour sign new agreement

The Maize school district has launched a website where shoppers can order select Under Armour products at a discount and help subsidize Maize athletics.

The site – https://maizeusd.itemorder.com – is part of a new agreement between the district and the sportswear company.

The three-year agreement, which took effect July 1, requires that when Maize buys new uniforms for its athletic teams, they must be the Under Armour brand unless the company doesn’t make uniforms for a given sport, such as wrestling or swimming. Coaches also must wear Under Armour apparel at games.

In exchange, the district will get discounted prices on uniforms and other Under Armour products. In addition, any purchase made through the district, including items purchased through the new website, will earn “Under Armour dollars” that can go toward additional products.

Marc Haught, athletic director for the Maize district, said he hopes to use those rebates to help pay for coaches’ apparel because Maize coaches are required to buy their own uniforms.

The shopping site features men’s and women’s jackets, polos, shorts, sweatshirts and other products. Some feature the Maize High Eagles or Maize South Mavericks logo; others are plain. Haught said prices on the site reflect up to a 40 percent discount off retail prices.

The site will be open until 11:59 p.m. Aug. 25, at which time the first round of orders will be placed and filled, said district spokeswoman Lori O’Toole Buselt. The site will reopen occasionally throughout the year for more orders.

Athletic officials say the number of high schools and K-12 districts signing apparel contracts has grown steadily over the past several years as public schools look to cut costs and sportswear companies seek to extend their reach and increase their customer base.

This story was originally published August 13, 2014 at 2:28 PM with the headline "Maize school district, Under Armour sign new agreement."