Let's say a hydration company offers you $15,000 for a sponsorship.
A few posts, maybe an appearance, and some photos for its marketing.
Seems pretty straightforward.
But there's something I'd want to know before signing.
What other brands are you agreeing not to work with?
A $15K deal could stop you from taking a $20K deal later.
Here's an example.
You sign with a hydration company for $15,000.
But part of the agreement says you can't work with any competing sports drink, supplement or sports nutrition companies for two years.
Eight months later, a supplement company reaches out with a $20,000 offer.
You're interested.
Except your original agreement might prevent you from accepting it.
Even if you've already finished all the posts and appearances for the first company.
Now, that doesn't mean the original deal was bad.
You couldn't have known another company would reach out.
But it does show why you need to pay attention to more than just the money being offered.
Some restrictions are much bigger than others.
There's a pretty big difference between agreeing not to promote another sports drink and agreeing not to work with any company selling hydration, supplements or nutrition products.
One is fairly specific.
The other could prevent you from working with a whole group of brands.
Some agreements also give the original sponsor the first chance to negotiate a new deal or match an offer from another company.
It doesn't mean those are bad terms.
But you should know what you're agreeing to and what it could mean for future opportunities.
And maybe a shorter agreement or a smaller list of restricted brands makes more sense for you.
That's something your agent can work through.
Here's what I'd ask before signing:
“What other brands would this prevent me from working with, and for how long?”
Because sometimes a $15,000 deal is worth taking.
And sometimes the restrictions attached to it make it worth having another conversation.
For more guidance on hockey brand deals and sponsorships, visit the Player Partnerships Players Hub.