AC Grand Rapids Signs Nike as On-Field Partner

The independently owned MLS Next Pro club will wear Nike kits when it debuts in February 2027.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Soccer

AC Grand Rapids Signs Nike as On-Field Partner

AC Grand Rapids has signed a multiyear deal naming Nike its official on-field apparel partner. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Why it matters

The club becomes the first MLS Next Pro team to partner with Nike, setting it apart from league-wide apparel arrangements. Independent Next Pro clubs have the option to forge their own uniform partnerships, and this deal reflects that choice for the Grand Rapids club.

The 8,500-seat Amway Stadium in downtown Grand Rapids will host home matches for the club. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The players

AC Grand Rapids

An independently owned soccer club playing in MLS Next Pro, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with home matches at Amway Stadium.

Nike

A global sportswear manufacturer headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, known for its athletic footwear and apparel lines.

The details

Under the agreement, Nike will supply match kits, training apparel and travel gear for the first team and technical staff. Nike had already been outfitting the AC Grand Rapids Academy and will continue to do so under the new deal.

February 2027: AC Grand Rapids takes the field in MLS Next Pro wearing Nike kits.

Market Landscape

MLS Next Pro's leaguewide apparel deal with Adidas covers all MLS clubs' first teams and development teams. Independent clubs like AC Grand Rapids, Carolina Core FC (Hummel) and CT United (Macron) have struck separate uniform partnerships outside that arrangement.

Fans of the club will see Nike-branded kits on the field once the team debuts in February 2027. Supporters can expect the new match kits to appear on the first team and technical staff when the season begins.

The takeaway

Independent clubs in MLS Next Pro can pursue their own sponsorship deals rather than relying only on league-wide arrangements. Watch for how Nike's partnership shapes the club's visual identity as it enters its first season.