By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
Pokémon Company International and Overtime have teamed up for a collaborative collection of professional sports jerseys and lifestyle apparel.
Set to debut during the upcoming Pokémon Playoffs on February 18, the partnership will feature custom-designed Pokémon jerseys for all eight of the Overtime Elite basketball teams.
Licensed activations inspired by the Pokémon franchise will also be prominently featured throughout the lOTE Arena during the Playoffs.
These activations will include integrated marketing opportunities, customized LEDs, Pokémon-inspired referee uniforms and live mascot appearances from Pikachu and Gengar.
“We’re always looking for new ways to engage our audience and bring them closer to the teams and brands they love,” said Overtime founder and CEO, Dan Porter. “This collaboration is the perfect example of that, bringing together two incredible fanbases for something truly special. Pokémon is a brand that’s been around for decades, and their ability to innovate while keeping their fans excited is something we admire,” added Porter. “We’re excited to see how this collection brings Overtime and Pokémon fans together.”
The jersey collection will be followed by a co-branded lifestyle collection that features Pokémon-inspired apparel for athletic and everyday wear.
Available exclusively through Overtime’s e-commerce website, the licensed fan apparel range will include a variety of fashionable shorts, hoodies, active-wear and pajamas.
The lifestyle clothing collection will debut on February 27 as part of the annual Pokémon Day celebrations.
“Pokémon and Overtime share a common goal of being at the forefront of pop culture, with both brands specializing in engaging content, innovative experiences, and coveted merchandise,” said The Pokemon Company senior director, Amy Sachtleben. “With Overtime’s expertise in reaching Gen Z audiences, we can’t think of a better partner to help us engage the next generation of fans in ways that uniquely resonate with them.”
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Overtime is a digital-focused sports media company that builds new leagues and IP that are tailored for young audiences and tech-savvy fans.
The company’s portfolio of professional sports properties currently includes OTE and Overtime Select for basketball, OT7 for football and OTX for boxing.
In addition to its in-house professional sports leagues, Overtime operates an extensive network of social media accounts that engages an online community of over 100 million fans and followers.
Overtime secures its revenue through sponsorships, brand partnerships, licensing agreements, media rights, e-commerce and more.
The Pokémon partnership was facilitated by The Brand Liaison as Overtime’s official licensing representative.