Legends and Blueprint strike student image rights deal

Legends and Blueprint Sports have teamed up to provide name, image, and likeness (NIL) collectives and Power Five universities in the US with NIL industry expertise.

The pair will offer the industry-leading NIL solution, setting the standard for NIL and student-athlete sports marketing.

Legends College and Blueprint Sports (BPSE) will collaborate to support student-athletes and the rapidly evolving college athletics NIL landscape.

Together, they will amplify and build sustainable revenue opportunities for NIL collectives under the BPSE umbrella, focusing on philanthropic fundraising, student-athlete sponsorships, memberships, exclusive events, and merchandise fulfilment.

Mike Behan, President of Legends College, said:

“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 have partnerships involving the University of Kansas, the University of Maryland, the University of Utah, and Villanova University.

BPSE powers collectives that support student-athletes at each university, and Legends College’s partnerships with each span multiple services across the company’s holistic solution. These universities will be the first to benefit from Legends and BPSE’s new strategic partnership. Across its portfolio, BPSE powers collectives at more than 25 universities nationwide, including twelve Power-Five universities, presenting an incredible opportunity for both companies to grow and expand within the industry together.

Rob Sine, CEO of Blueprint Sports, said:

“Balancing the traditional institutional legacy of college athletics with the new era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) 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.”

Legends’ college business has grown exponentially over the past 10-plus years and includes partnerships with leading universities, collegiate organisations, and events.

Born out of the impact Legends continues to have across the collegiate landscape, Legends College was launched in November 2023 and provides a 360-degree service solution including research, project development, premium ticket sales, sponsorships, food and beverage, merchandise, business intelligence, marketing and philanthropic fundraising and engagement.

The partnership with BPSE expands and enhances Legends’ NIL proficiency across its services.

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