Gopher Athletics and Learfield’s Gopher Sports Properties announced today a landmark partnership with Visible, the digital-first wireless carrier powered by Verizon’s network, naming the brand the first-ever helmet bumper partner of Minnesota Football.
Beginning September 12, the Visible logo will appear on the back of every Minnesota football helmet, making the Gophers one of the first programs in college athletics – and the first Learfield university partner – to feature a corporate brand on its football helmet.
The new helmet bumper will made its debut when Minnesota hosted Mississippi State at Huntington Bank Stadium Saturday.
“As college athletics continues to evolve, it’s important that we identify innovative opportunities that strengthen our programs and department and continue to help provide a world-class experience for our student-athletes,” said Thomas O. Moe, director of Athletics Mark Coyle. “We are excited to welcome Visible and proud to be among the first programs in the country to introduce helmet bumper branding. This partnership reflects the continued momentum of our department and our commitment to building relationships with organizations that invest in the future of Gopher Athletics.”
Following the NCAA’s recent approval of placing commercial logos on college athletics uniforms, Learfield believes the branded helmet bumper has emerged as one of the newest and most notable sponsorship opportunities in college sports. Minnesota is among the first programs to bring the opportunity to life, placing Visible at the center of the action as the Gophers compete on one of college football’s largest stages in the Big Ten.
“Appearing on every Minnesota football helmet gives Visible a bold presence on one of college football’s biggest stages,” said David Kim, President at Verizon Value. “We’re proud to partner with Gopher Athletics on this first-of-its-kind opportunity and to bring Visible to Minnesota fans in a way that is distinctive and true to our brand. As we continue to build our presence in the Twin Cities, we’re excited to be part of this moment in Gopher Athletics and connect with the passionate community that supports the team.”
For Visible, the partnership marks a significant new presence in the Twin Cities and a distinctive way for the brand to connect with Minnesota fans. The helmet placement puts Visible directly in the game-day experience, introducing the brand to fans through one of the newest sponsorship opportunities in college athletics.
“Helmet branding represents a new opportunity in college sports, and Minnesota is one of the first programs to bring this to life with a national brand,” said Kim Damron, President of Sports Properties at Learfield. “Mark and his team at Gopher Athletics continue to demonstrate leadership in how they approach new opportunities to generate meaningful value for their brand partners, their programs and their student-athletes to support the continued success of Gopher Athletics.”
This partnership was facilitated in collaboration with Learfield’s Gopher Sports Properties, the exclusive media rightsholder for Gopher Athletics, and the Learfield corporate partnership team.
