Legends, the premium sporting experiences company, and Blueprint Sports (BPSE), the name, image, and likeness (NIL) firm, have formed a strategic partnership.
The deal will provide NIL collectives and 'Power Five' universities with an NIL infrastructure, supporting professional operational capacities, service offerings, and NIL industry expertise.
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As part of the tie-up, the two companies will build sustainable revenue opportunities for NIL collectives, focusing on philanthropic fundraising, student-athlete sponsorships, memberships, exclusive events, and merchandise fulfillment.
Rob Sine, chief executive of Blueprint Sports, said: “Balancing the traditional institutional legacy of college athletics with the new era of name, image, and likeness can be a delicate task.
“Our collaboration with Legends enables our teams to combine their extensive knowledge, proven track records, and resources to provide the most comprehensive and forward-facing solution to an industry undergoing tremendous change.
“Our goal is to continue guiding the college sports industry, athletic departments, conferences, and collectives in the right direction while maximizing the impact of NIL on student-athletes and their programs.”
Mike Behan, president of Legends College, added: “The college athletics landscape has undergone rapid transformation. Through our close collaboration with partners during this dynamic period, Legends is acutely aware of the significant opportunities stemming from NIL, as well as the challenge in establishing sustainable revenue models for NIL collectives.
“Our partnership with Blueprint Sports is positioned to address this challenge, offering an unparalleled solution for universities and NIL collectives to generate long-term revenue in support of student-athletes.”
Both companies already have partnerships with the University of Kansas, the University of Maryland, the University of Utah, and Villanova University, meaning these schools will be the first to benefit from Legends and BPSE’s new strategic partnership.
Last week, Borussia Dortmund, the German soccer giants, announced a new, long-term partnership with Legends.
Under the agreement, the two parties will work together to create an upgraded e-commerce platform for the Bundesliga side.
