Nike World Headquarters tours?

[malone7384]

Juggler,

Yes, I am personally aware of this happening. Nike is one of my clients and I have actually spoken to people who have been asked to leave because they were wearing adidas shoes. It sort of makes sense to me that if you are working for Nike that you would not wear a competitor's brand on to their campus. If for no other reason than common courtesy.

As for using the track during the day - I am not sure that there is an "official". It is one of those things where I don't think that they would kick you off if you were there during the day. I think that it is more known for people living in the area.

Didn't mean to ruffle your feathers any - I try not to speak in urban legends if I can at all help it.

[John Shaft]

My experience of running on the track has been a "don't ask, don't tell" - just run over, get on the track, run around it, and leave...quietly and discreetly. Never once was I accosted by security. However, I also didn't run through the parking lots or anywhere else on the "inner" portions of the campus.

[hamellr]

As an ex-Nike employee, Official Nike policy is no visitors at all, except escorted by an employee and even then they try to discourage that. There are no official tours except at a group level that have been arranged via the Public Relations group.

The tracks and all sports facilities are off limits to non-Employees or their immediate families due to liability issues.

It is still policy that people wearing competing brands of clothing (not just shoes) with *visible logos* be asked to remove it or leave the campus, although that is relaxed when they are hosting events. I have seen this happen, but the guards are usually very polite about it.

Nike Security is fairly nice, but they do have a core of ex-Police officers who know their job very well. They can and will arrest you for trespassing, although they do give warnings first. I've even seen them forbid employees from driving on campus at all due to repeated parking and speeding violations.

Honestly though, past the grounds, the bronze life like statues, and the (extremely) small museum, there just isn't anything to see. What manufacturing areas there are are off limits to even employees who don't work in those areas. Other then that it's just building after building of cubicles, granted nicer cubicles then you've seen any where else.

[tbone25]

As an ex-Nike employee that worked on campus, there is an official policy involving visitors. As hamellr stated, no visitors, unless escorted by an employee or checked in by security. Nike World Headquarters is private property, not open to the public. It is a place of business. However, employees escorting visitors is not as discouraged as hamellr implies.

Guests may meet with an employee for lunch in the one of the cafes.

The tracks and sports facilities are OPEN to employees immediate families to work out, as long as they have gone through the process of becoming a member of the sports facilities and have been assigned a number. The employees monthly dues are taken out of their paychecks. There is also a guest policy at the gyms for employees to bring in clients or otherwise. Guests must sign a waiver.

The tracks and sports facilities are NOT OPEN to the public. This has to do with liability. This is why any person caught trespassing is warned and then arrested for trespassing.

Now for the good news:

If you really want to drive through campus, do so M-F 9am-6pm. The campus officially closes at 7PM and the gates close. The campus is also officially closed on the weekends. Even employees are required to check in at a security gate at the Walker entrance or have their manager give their badge access on nights and weekends. There really isn't anything to see while driving through.

Avoid the campus when it's dark and on weekends. Security is only doing their job in questioning and escorting outsiders off campus. If asked to leave, please do so.

NIKE LOGO POLICY: Wear the swoosh!

Basically, wear Nike brand or one of its affiliates whenever possible. Respect the brand at their private place of business and do not wear competing brands. This is why Nike offers large discounts on its products to its employees and their families. Yes, I have personally asked people wearing competing products to cover up the logo or change. However, brands that do not directly compete with Nike, such as jeans and business attire, is ok.

hamellr is right as far as not being much to look at if you go by yourself. If you have a tour guide or employee that has given tours in the past, they are good for many stories of athletes on campus and about the history of the buildings and their openings.

[figmalt]

Originally Posted by juggler

This sounds like urban legend. Are you personally aware of this actually happening? I am very skeptical.

What's to keep non-employees off the track during the day? How is one to know whether the track is indeed open to the public? I am just curious on the official Nike policy and I have yet to find or hear of verifiable information. Folks I see on the track during the day are not wearing ID in easily visible places.

My sister worked there for several years, and at least as far as employees are concerned, they are not allowed to wear non-Nike athletic shoes (or Nike owned companies like Cole Haan). Any logo shirts must not be from competitors either. I can't say for certain that they would turn people away for having non-Nike shoes, but they do take it seriously.

Milikan Way is the closest MAX stop.

[Smiled]

Any time I've driven in, security guards approached and asked my business.

[rosecitywanderer]

I've driven through several times in my personal car to show people around and never had any problems. I also used to drive shuttle service for the nearby Audi dealership so I was in there at least 15 to 20 times a week. Granted the shuttle car was blatantly marked so I guess the security put two and two together on that one. At any rate, security seems to be rather lax on weekdays but on weekends they're very uptight about it.

[dchase5495]

Official Nike Policy...Nike no longer provides general public tours, please visit www.nikebiz.com[/URL] for the most up to date information about Nike. As for wearing competitor brands while on campus, yes I am sure that employees will look at you adn some might even says something to you. Nike discourages wearing competitors brands while at our facility. The barkdust trail is also closed to the public.