CU and The Brandr Group Launch Group Licensing for Student-Athletes
November 18, 2021 | General
New opportunities For athletes to benefit from their name, image and likeness
BOULDER – The University of Colorado and The Brandr Group (TBG) have agreed to a group licensing program that creates new opportunities for Colorado athletes to profit from their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) using the school's official trademarks and logos for the Buffs' 17 athletic men's and women's programs.
"I am excited that we have the opportunity to partner with The Brandr Group in this manner," said CU athletic director Rick George. "From personally being involved with the NCAA Working Group in the discussions on Name, Image and Likeness, I believe this partnership will allow our student-athletes to benefit from their NIL and help in growing their brand,".
The partnership with The Brandr Group allows Colorado student-athletes to create collective deals to benefit from their NIL co-branded with the Buffaloes' logos and marks in licensing and marketing programs. Student-athletes will have the option to voluntarily join TBG's program that will facilitate group licensing opportunities on behalf of the student-athletes with no limit to the athlete's individual NIL rights. Interested licensees should contact Kathleen Melvin at TBG for more details.
Buffs With a Brand, the CU student-athlete NIL program, got its start last year and has now become a comprehensive initiative to inform and support student-athletes in their NIL ventures through personal brand management, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. The Office of Compliance Services and Leadership and Career Development provide ongoing guidance regarding the state law and NCAA rules as well as resources and education to ensure student-athletes take advantage of NIL opportunities in a compliant manner.
"Colorado has been at the forefront in preparing their student-athletes to maximize the benefits from their brands, their social media and now through group licensing from their Name, Image and Likeness," said Wesley Haynes, TBG CEO. "We are excited to continue the work that Colorado athletics started several years ago and to bring their NIL program to life for their student-athletes while allowing their fans to celebrate their affinity like never before."
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 at more than 20 programs throughout the country. 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 Colorado merchandise, including team jerseys, with the name and number of their favorite Buffaloes who have joined the respective group licensing program once TBG enters into agreements with applicable school trademark licensees.
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.
About CU Athletics
The University of Colorado is a member of the Pac-12 Conference and sponsors 17 intercollegiate sports on the Division I level: seven men's sports—basketball, cross country, football, golf, indoor track, outdoor track and skiing, and 10 women's sports-- basketball, cross country, golf, indoor track, lacrosse, outdoor track, skiing, soccer, tennis and volleyball. CU has won 29 national championships in its athletic history, and its sports teams are known as the "Buffaloes," with one of the nation's most popular live mascots in Ralphie. The Boulder campus is located at the "foot of the Flatirons," just 25 miles northwest of Denver, and has over 35,000 students.
"I am excited that we have the opportunity to partner with The Brandr Group in this manner," said CU athletic director Rick George. "From personally being involved with the NCAA Working Group in the discussions on Name, Image and Likeness, I believe this partnership will allow our student-athletes to benefit from their NIL and help in growing their brand,".
The partnership with The Brandr Group allows Colorado student-athletes to create collective deals to benefit from their NIL co-branded with the Buffaloes' logos and marks in licensing and marketing programs. Student-athletes will have the option to voluntarily join TBG's program that will facilitate group licensing opportunities on behalf of the student-athletes with no limit to the athlete's individual NIL rights. Interested licensees should contact Kathleen Melvin at TBG for more details.
Buffs With a Brand, the CU student-athlete NIL program, got its start last year and has now become a comprehensive initiative to inform and support student-athletes in their NIL ventures through personal brand management, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. The Office of Compliance Services and Leadership and Career Development provide ongoing guidance regarding the state law and NCAA rules as well as resources and education to ensure student-athletes take advantage of NIL opportunities in a compliant manner.
"Colorado has been at the forefront in preparing their student-athletes to maximize the benefits from their brands, their social media and now through group licensing from their Name, Image and Likeness," said Wesley Haynes, TBG CEO. "We are excited to continue the work that Colorado athletics started several years ago and to bring their NIL program to life for their student-athletes while allowing their fans to celebrate their affinity like never before."
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 at more than 20 programs throughout the country. 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 Colorado merchandise, including team jerseys, with the name and number of their favorite Buffaloes who have joined the respective group licensing program once TBG enters into agreements with applicable school trademark licensees.
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.
About CU Athletics
The University of Colorado is a member of the Pac-12 Conference and sponsors 17 intercollegiate sports on the Division I level: seven men's sports—basketball, cross country, football, golf, indoor track, outdoor track and skiing, and 10 women's sports-- basketball, cross country, golf, indoor track, lacrosse, outdoor track, skiing, soccer, tennis and volleyball. CU has won 29 national championships in its athletic history, and its sports teams are known as the "Buffaloes," with one of the nation's most popular live mascots in Ralphie. The Boulder campus is located at the "foot of the Flatirons," just 25 miles northwest of Denver, and has over 35,000 students.
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