New Era Cap Company

New Era Cap Company

File:New Era Cap.png
Company type	Private
Industry	Headwear, apparel, accessories
Founded	1920 by Ehrhardt Koch in Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Headquarters	Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Key people	Ehrhardt Koch (Founder, 1920–1953) Harold Koch (President/CEO, 1953–1984) David Koch (President/CEO, 1982–2000) Chris Koch (President/CEO, 2001–present)
Products	Headwear, baseball caps, apparel and accessories
Brands	59Fifty
Revenue	$1 billion
Operating income	$3.9 million
Net income	$9.7 million
Number of employees	326 (Buffalo, New York) 1,200 (worldwide)
Subsidiaries	'47
Website	neweracap.com

The New Era Cap Company, often referred to simply as New Era, is a U.S.-based manufacturer of headwear headquartered in Buffalo, New York. Established in 1920 by Ehrhardt Koch, the firm manages over 500 licensing agreements and has served as the exclusive supplier of baseball caps to Major League Baseball (MLB) since 1993.

History

Founded in 1920 with an initial $5,000 loan from his aunt, Ehrhardt Koch started operations on Buffalo’s Genesee Street. The original workforce comprised 14 individuals, including family and former coworkers, producing approximately 60,000 caps during the inaugural year. In 1934, New Era secured its first contract with MLB by manufacturing caps for the Cleveland Indians. The company’s breakthrough came in 1954 when Harold Koch redesigned the fitted professional cap, debuting the legendary 59Fifty "Brooklyn Style" model featuring design elements that became industry standards. Initially specializing in men's Gatsby caps, by the mid-1960s New Era was supplying nearly half of all MLB teams.

In 1993, the company obtained exclusive rights to manufacture on-field caps for every MLB franchise. Chris Koch assumed the role of CEO in 2001 and spearheaded efforts to broaden the brand's presence across additional sports sectors. Beginning in 2012, New Era secured exclusive sideline licensing agreements with the National Football League (NFL), formalized official cap partnerships with Australian cricket’s Big Bash League, English football club Manchester United, and by 2017 claimed exclusive NBA on-court headwear rights.

In response to public concerns over gang-related symbolism on certain designs, New Era voluntarily discontinued three New York Yankees hat models in 2007. The company acted promptly following criticism from activists and officials, reiterating its stance against marketing products to gangs.

August 2016 marked a major branding milestone when New Era acquired naming rights for the Buffalo Bills’ stadium, which was renamed "New Era Field". This sponsorship concluded in 2020 at New Era’s request.

In September 2018, New Era expanded its football portfolio by becoming the official apparel provider for the Canadian Football League (CFL), extending beyond headwear to include uniforms and sideline gear.

On April 22, 2021, New Era was announced as an official merchandise partner for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, further diversifying its presence within professional sports markets.

By 2023, New Era’s product offerings included a broad selection of snapback iterations of its signature 59Fifty caps adorned with logos from prominent sports franchises as well as limited-edition releases.

On July 9, 2024, New Era entered a multiyear contract to serve as the official cap supplier for the National Hockey League (NHL), marking a significant expansion of its global footprint within professional athletics.

In August 2024, New Era enhanced its brand portfolio through the acquisition of Massachusetts-based headwear company '47, strengthening its position as a leading international sports and lifestyle enterprise.