Boston sneaker manufacturer New Balance has signed a multi-year partnership agreement with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts to become the official athletic shoe for Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
New Balance CEO Rob DeMartini said:
New Balance and Disney share a commitment to quality and innovation. We are proud to work with Walt Disney Parks & Resorts to showcase New Balance’s brand excellence and the benefits of an active lifestyle.
The agreement will cover exclusive footwear, branding opportunities and running events. Additionally, New Balance will also be the official running shoe for runDisney races and the baseball shoe for amateur games at ESPN Wide World of Sports. The companies also have plans to create maps for the resort’s running trails and fitness programs.
To celebrate the partnership, New Balance created an exclusive runDisney 860v3 running shoe for both men and women. These shoes incorporate the spirit of Mickey and Minnie Mouse and will be available for purchase at the Walt Disney World Marathon Health & Fitness Expo through the weekend. Consumers will also be able to purchase the shoes at future runDisney expos, pop-up shops at ESPN’s sports complex and other special events.
