adidas Creeping Up On Nike, Expecting To Hit Over $5 Billion In U.S. Sales By 2020

In the mid to late 90s, it was the Monday Night Wars. Today, it’s the Sneaker Wars, with Nike being Nike, adidas experiencing a meteoric rise, and Under Armour more or less confusing the living hell out of everyone — especially its shareholders.

But back to the #3StripeLife.

Assisted by the brilliant bookends of Kanye West (Yeezys) and Snoop Dogg (anything and everything football), adidas has exploded — as evidenced by this insane stock graphic — and is reportedly expecting to hit over $5.3 billion in U.S. sales by 2020.

Per sports industry analyst Matt Powell, the battle is already even overseas, which is kind of insane.

Who would’ve thought the insurmountable force that IS Nike — home to sales machines in Kobe, LeBron and MJ — would ever be hearing serious footsteps?

Well, it’s happening. Fast. And the growth in the U.S. is nothing to sneeze at either.

According to BizJournals, in 2016 alone the company saw sales climb a whopping 30 percent.

Still, the gap between Nike and adidas in the states remains rather large, with the swoosh taking in $14.7 billion and adidas at $3.6 billion.

To no surprise, however, plans are firmly in place to tighten that up.

More from BizJournals:

"In North America, Adidas plans to continue to focus on managing its most important products more effectively, making its products easier to find at wholesale partners and “winning the locker room,” through deals with influential athletes. Its endorsers now range from James Harden in the NBA to Aaron Rodgers and Vonn Miller in the NFL. King said he expects to extend some of the company’s NCAA deals as well."

Everywhere you look, seemingly on a daily basis, adidas is out there hitting yet another tentacle of the landscape as they continue to evolve and climb the ladder in the hopes of snatching the crown off Michael Jordan’s storied, billion dollar head.

The only question I have is when will Under Armour finally wake up and make a ballsy move like signing a highly influential personality that crosses over countless platforms in the unique ways that Jordan, Snoop and Kanye do?

If they’re smart, the answer should be tomorrow.

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Previously:

• Air Jordan IV x KAWS Set To Release This Spring
• The adidas Consortium x Sneaker Politics Gazelle
• The Jordan IV Suede “Royalty”
• Michael Jordan Gifts Serena Williams With Custom Jordans
• Paul George’s Signature Shoe Features His FACE
• Jordan 16 “Midnight Navy” Is Ready To Take Your Money

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