The University of Illinois athletics department has reached a new sponsorship agreement with Busey Bank to place the bank’s logo on the jerseys of nine varsity sports for the next five years.
According to 247 Sports, the deal is valued at $30 million, placing the Fighting Illini at the forefront of recent jersey patch deal valuations. Illinois joins LSU, Wisconsin, UNLV and Arkansas, among others, in announcing high-value jersey patch sponsorships, and while contract values are not publicly available for every deal, UNLV did disclose the value of its jersey patch sponsorship to be roughly $11 million.
Busey Bank’s logo will appear on Illinois’ football jerseys as well as men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, soccer and golf uniforms.
"With the introduction of increased corporate visibility on uniforms and coaching apparel, it was important for us to identify the right partner for such a high-profile, first-of-its-kind opportunity to be so closely aligned with our student-athletes, staff and the Fighting Illini brand," Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman said in a statement. "For nearly 160 years, the University of Illinois and Busey Bank have shared a history that has helped shape this great community. Both of our organizations are experiencing remarkable growth in prominence, reputation and success, and we are excited to help each other further accelerate our respective missions through this exciting partnership."
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Busey Bank is a local, Champaign-Urbana company with a history nearly as long as the university itself. Along with the jersey patches, Busey will become the official financial services partner of Illinois and continue its role as title sponsor of Illinois Athletics Fighting Illini radio.
"This is more than a sponsorship—it's an investment in the future of Illinois Athletics and in the students and alumni who carry the University's impact beyond campus,” said Van Dukeman, chairman and CEO of First Busey Corporation. “Rooted in Champaign-Urbana, Busey and the University of Illinois were founded just three months apart, and we're proud to continue that shared legacy through a partnership grounded in excellence and community. Together, we're creating opportunities that will benefit student-athletes, students, alumni, fans and the communities we serve for generations to come."
