Nike and New York City could change the licensing game for cities across the world

As they compete with one another for new residents and tourists, how US cities and municipalities brand themselves has become more and more important. In 2019, the City of New York partnered with the Nike enabling the sportswear company to use the city’s departmental likenesses on their merchandise. M. Blair Thomas looks at how city managers are using such partnerships to create revenues and broader questions over branding, naming rights and the autonomy of public organizations.