NORMAL, Ill. – In the ever-changing landscape of collegiate athletics, opportunities for revenue are at a premium and when the NCAA Division I Cabinet announced it has voted to pass the option to allow sponsored jersey patches during competition on January 23, a new opportunity was on the table. With the result of the vote, Illinois State Athletics, and Learfield's Redbird Sports Properties are working together to bring this historic opportunity for Redbird Athletics and its 17 varsity sports to the marketplace for the upcoming athletics season beginning August 1.
On October 23, 2024, Illinois State Athletics, Redbird Sports Properties, and State Farm announced a trailblazing sponsorship, making it one of the earliest programs in college football to include an on-field logo with State Farm's logo affixed on both 25-yard lines on Jay and Lori Bergman Field at Hancock Stadium. That announcement received significant media attention and established Illinois State Athletics and its partners as forward thinkers in the evolving college athletics marketplace.
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"We're proud to bring this exciting new opportunity to businesses that want to align with the energy, tradition, and community that define Illinois State Athletics while creating meaningful support for the department and the success of its student-athletes," Matt Moran, General Manager of Redbird Sports Properties said.
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Previously, the only commercial logo permitted on game jerseys was the equipment or apparel manufacturer. With the latest NCAA rule change, it will open the door for a brand partner's logo to be added to the jerseys. Between television and streaming broadcasts, in-venue attendance, and web, social and digital impressions, the opportunity will provide significant, year-round visibility for Illinois State's first jersey patch partner.
Across more than 400 sporting events played at home and on the road throughout Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee and beyond, and in front of almost 1.2 million fans statewide, Redbird Athletics boasted more than 38 million social media impressions and nearly 350,000 live game attendees throughout the 2024-25 athletics season – metrics that transform brand visibility with what is now the most prominent sponsorship placement in college athletics.
When coupled with additional assets available through Redbird Sports Properties such as digital marketing services, NIL activation, storytelling video content, and school intellectual property integration, jersey patch sponsorship provides the most lucrative opportunity ever to create authentic connection with the most passionate fanbase there is – college sports fans. Â
"ISU Athletics will always focus on highlighting our student-athletes and growing our brand at the national level," ISU Deputy Director of Athletics Paul Kabbes said. "This opportunity created by the NCAA will allow us to strengthen ties with the Bloomington/Normal business community, while advancing our student-athlete experience. We look forward to putting our best foot forward come August 1 when this is allowed at the national level."
Redbird Sports Properties, the locally based team of Learfield – the leading media and technology company powering college athletics – is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Illinois State Athletics and collaborates with the Redbirds on all sponsorship opportunities. Across the country, Learfield has already shown success in delivering impactful jersey patch partnerships in power conference leagues and notable markets with the likes of Arkansas and UNLV.
For more information on jersey patch sponsorship and additional brand partnership opportunities, please contact Redbird Sports Properties General Manager Matt Moran  (matt.moran@redbirdsportsproperties.com, (217) 412-5202) or ISU Deputy Director of Athletics/External Operations Paul Kabbes (pjkabbe@ilstu.edu, 309-438-5526).
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
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