TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati and The Brandr Group (TBG) have launched a group licensing initiative for the school's student-athletes covering all the Bearcats' 18 varsity sports, including the football program, which is coming off a College Football Playoff appearance. This partnership creates new opportunities for Cincinnati's student-athletes to profit off their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) using the school's official trademarks and logos.
"We are excited to partner with Brandr to offer our student-athletes more opportunities to profit off their Name, Image and Likeness," said UC Diretor of Athletics John Cunningham. "Group licensing with the leader in this space will open up plenty of new avenues for our Bearcats to earn revenue, while also providing our fans with even more ways to purchase officially-licensed merchandise. This is further proof of our commitment to having UC Athletics be a leader in NIL for student-athletes."
The new partnership joins the Bearcats' IMPACT NIL readiness program, which UC launched last June in collaboration with Opendorse Ready and Empower to provide comprehensive NIL education to student-athletes.
Cincinnati has established itself as one of the premier athletic programs in the country, enjoying success from the gridiron to the hardcourt. The new partnership with TBG allows for the collective use of student-athletes' NIL in licensing and marketing programs, co-branded with the university's brand. Student-athletes will have the option to voluntarily join a group licensing program. TBG will facilitate group licensing opportunities on behalf of the student-athletes, and the program does not limit individual NIL rights. Potential licensees interested in learning more should contact Kathleen Melvin at TBG.
"It's hard to think of a better story this season than that of Cincinnati's undefeated football team, and that success is a testament to the hard work put in across the board by their entire athletic department," said Wesley Haynes, TBG CEO. "We are absolutely thrilled to add them to our family of schools, working closely with their team to craft co-branded opportunities through our group licensing program. This will give Bearcats student-athletes the chance to capitalize on their NIL through a vast merchandising portfolio, while also uncovering new ways for their passionate fans to engage with their favorite players."
TBG, a brand management, marketing and licensing agency, will manage and administer the program as well as develop licensing opportunities on behalf of the student-athletes. With decades of collective management experience for some of the world's largest brands, TBG also manages the group rights program for the NFL, NBA and MLB players' associations in the college space.
Products that combine team logos and player names and numbers have accounted for a large portion of licensed sports merchandise sales at the professional level for decades, and this program opens the door for the same opportunities for student-athletes at the collegiate level. Fans can expect to be able to purchase official Cincinnati merchandise, including team jerseys, with the name and number of their favorite Bearcats players who have joined the respective group licensing program once TBG enters into agreements with applicable school trademark licensees.
About University of Cincinnati Athletics
The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics competes at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics with the vision to reach Next Level Success for all 18 varsity teams and more than 500 student-athletes. The Bearcats have a proud athletics history, winning eight national championships and 117 conference titles. The Cincinnati men's basketball team is among the 15 winningest programs all-time, while the football team became the first American Athletic Conference program to compete in the College Football Playoff in 2021. Olympic gold medalist volleyball player Jordan Thompson, NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and Major League Baseball legend Sandy Koufax, are among the several luminaries who have competed as Bearcats. Under the leadership of Director of Athletics John Cunningham, UC Athletics' mission is to connect our community, enhance our University and impact the lives of student-athletes as they prepare to change the world on and off the field.
About The Brandr Group
The Brandr Group (TBG) is a brand management, marketing and licensing agency powered by a team with decades of collective management experience for some of the world's largest brands. TBG has emerged as the leading agency in group licensing programs with college athletic programs and their student athletes in the Name, Image and Likeness category including the biggest brands in college athletics. TBG partners with prominent brands, colleges, sponsors, corporate trademarks, athletes and events to cultivate, diversify and monetize intellectual property through professional brand management and licensing endeavors. For more information, please visit tbgusa.com.
"We are excited to partner with Brandr to offer our student-athletes more opportunities to profit off their Name, Image and Likeness," said UC Diretor of Athletics John Cunningham. "Group licensing with the leader in this space will open up plenty of new avenues for our Bearcats to earn revenue, while also providing our fans with even more ways to purchase officially-licensed merchandise. This is further proof of our commitment to having UC Athletics be a leader in NIL for student-athletes."
The new partnership joins the Bearcats' IMPACT NIL readiness program, which UC launched last June in collaboration with Opendorse Ready and Empower to provide comprehensive NIL education to student-athletes.
Cincinnati has established itself as one of the premier athletic programs in the country, enjoying success from the gridiron to the hardcourt. The new partnership with TBG allows for the collective use of student-athletes' NIL in licensing and marketing programs, co-branded with the university's brand. Student-athletes will have the option to voluntarily join a group licensing program. TBG will facilitate group licensing opportunities on behalf of the student-athletes, and the program does not limit individual NIL rights. Potential licensees interested in learning more should contact Kathleen Melvin at TBG.
"It's hard to think of a better story this season than that of Cincinnati's undefeated football team, and that success is a testament to the hard work put in across the board by their entire athletic department," said Wesley Haynes, TBG CEO. "We are absolutely thrilled to add them to our family of schools, working closely with their team to craft co-branded opportunities through our group licensing program. This will give Bearcats student-athletes the chance to capitalize on their NIL through a vast merchandising portfolio, while also uncovering new ways for their passionate fans to engage with their favorite players."
TBG, a brand management, marketing and licensing agency, will manage and administer the program as well as develop licensing opportunities on behalf of the student-athletes. With decades of collective management experience for some of the world's largest brands, TBG also manages the group rights program for the NFL, NBA and MLB players' associations in the college space.
Products that combine team logos and player names and numbers have accounted for a large portion of licensed sports merchandise sales at the professional level for decades, and this program opens the door for the same opportunities for student-athletes at the collegiate level. Fans can expect to be able to purchase official Cincinnati merchandise, including team jerseys, with the name and number of their favorite Bearcats players who have joined the respective group licensing program once TBG enters into agreements with applicable school trademark licensees.
About University of Cincinnati Athletics
The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics competes at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics with the vision to reach Next Level Success for all 18 varsity teams and more than 500 student-athletes. The Bearcats have a proud athletics history, winning eight national championships and 117 conference titles. The Cincinnati men's basketball team is among the 15 winningest programs all-time, while the football team became the first American Athletic Conference program to compete in the College Football Playoff in 2021. Olympic gold medalist volleyball player Jordan Thompson, NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and Major League Baseball legend Sandy Koufax, are among the several luminaries who have competed as Bearcats. Under the leadership of Director of Athletics John Cunningham, UC Athletics' mission is to connect our community, enhance our University and impact the lives of student-athletes as they prepare to change the world on and off the field.
About The Brandr Group
The Brandr Group (TBG) is a brand management, marketing and licensing agency powered by a team with decades of collective management experience for some of the world's largest brands. TBG has emerged as the leading agency in group licensing programs with college athletic programs and their student athletes in the Name, Image and Likeness category including the biggest brands in college athletics. TBG partners with prominent brands, colleges, sponsors, corporate trademarks, athletes and events to cultivate, diversify and monetize intellectual property through professional brand management and licensing endeavors. For more information, please visit tbgusa.com.