As you know, Kansas, Oklahoma and North Carolina are pursuing comprehensive real estate projects to generate new revenue streams as Bloomberg's Janet Lorin notes the business models increasingly resemble those of their professional counterparts. Here’s more of what you need to know…

➤ Fans who want suite access to the upgraded Booth Memorial Stadium in Lawrence will pay an $800K initial donation plus $60K annually, while tier 1 season tickets run $1,800. 

➤ The Sooners recently broke ground on the $1.1B Rock Creek Entertainment District, utilizing $800M in private capital and $230M in bonds to construct a $330M, 8,000-seat arena for basketball and gymnastics, and OU Foundation CEO Guy Patton says: "The facility itself will be an attractive recruiting tool because of the quality of the facility, and the increased access to premium seating will be financially beneficial to the teams as well. This will be a huge win for the community."

➤ Carolina recently paused plans for a $786M off-campus arena at Carolina North amid pushback from fans and former HC Roy Williams despite internal projections indicating a new facility would generate $26M in net annual cash flow compared to just $4M from a renovation. UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts: "We put buckets out when it rains. If there were a perfect option, we would have found it by now, but there isn't. Everything involves trade-offs, and so that's what we have to try to work through." (link)

College football stadiums dedicate an average of just 6% of capacity to premium seating compared to 19% in the NFL and 23% in the NBA, creating a substantial revenue opportunity as fan expectations modernize, according to a report by Playfly Sports and Vision Insights. The study reveals that 86% of college football premium attendees have experienced pro venue premium seating in the last two years, while 92% of non-premium college fans express interest in premium season tickets. To meet this demand, programs are shedding raw capacity—which fell 2.3% in the Power Four and 3.2% in the Group of Six between 2016 and 2025—to install upgraded amenities in venues that average an opening year of 1958 compared to 1997 for NFL facilities. The report details why athletic departments must treat seating infrastructure as a foundational asset: "Ticket revenue is not just one line item among many; it is the root system that feeds the rest. Strong ticket and premium demand drive sponsorship value, food-and-beverage and parking income, and the strength of a property's media and commercial partnerships." (link)

Sports properties are carving out specialized subcategories to capture an artificial intelligence sponsorship wave that saw global deals jump 92% YoY across 176 active brands, per SponsorUnited data. Led by top buyers Copilot, Google Gemini, Harvey, Globant, and ChatGPT, firms are purchasing rights partitioned into niche categories like general AI, chatbots, and virtual assistants, including a recent Playfly Sports deal spanning three universities. Properties across college and professional sports are leveraging the surge, with the San Francisco 49ers preparing to finalize six AI subcategory sponsorships after AI companies bought all remaining stadium suites before the season. 49ers COO Brent Schoeb on how the franchise is defining the new marketplace: "We actually used [multiple] AI [companies] to determine what the AI subcategories should be. Definitions are evolving, of course, but we feel like AI will be a top-10 category on its own. It’s kind of our new gold rush. The biggest indicator for us was that the AI category bought all the suites we had left before this season." (link)

Standard Chartered has partnered with Formula 1 as the circuit’s Official Wealth Management and Corporate and Investment Banking Partner to leverage the sport's global reach across 19 of the 21 calendar markets. Business of Speed publisher Vincenzo Landino explains the agreement highlights a broader commercial shift within F1, transitioning the product from simple television exposure to critical relationship infrastructure designed to facilitate B2B hospitality and enterprise sales. Formula 1, Liberty Media, and CAA previously formalized this B2B pipeline by launching the F1 Business Summit during the Las Vegas Grand Prix to connect executives and sponsors. Landino: "The fastest-growing F1 commercial inventory over the next two years will lie between sponsorship and business media, in summits, premium content, client experiences, and recurring gatherings built around real expertise. As I've written and talked about ad nauseam, television exposure will remain the easiest number to print in headlines, but increasingly become the least interesting." (link)

Sticking to the topic, SportBusiness sponsorship analyst Matthew Williams analyzed Crystal Palace's front-of-shirt sponsorship agreement with U.S. software infrastructure company Temporal in a recent SportBusiness Podcast, explaining why a B2B platform is investing in Premier League inventory. Key notes…

➤ B2B technology brands utilizing consumer-facing Premier League assets: "Their business funnel works a little differently to maybe some other B2B technology brands where they see a lot of their new business starting at the developer level and then funneling up to a decision maker, CFO, whatever it may be. So the people they're actually trying to reach to kind of start that new business chain are the software developers that would be interested in using their products. And therefore obviously the software developers. … You actually reach them and want to make a more B2C type play."

➤ Unbundling training kit rights to offset reduced match shirt valuations: "Crucially this deal with Temporal does not include training kit rights. So it leaves them with an asset to sell there. ... The opportunity there now is that clubs can ultimately kind of leverage the lucrative gambling sector for assets like training kit because the ban, as we know, only applies to the front-of-shirt. ... Theoretically, the value combined of the front-of-shirt and training kit assets could be similar to what they're earning through Net8 or at least very close, maybe even more if they can leverage it."

➤ On the rising commercial value of training and pre-match warm-up gear: "I think you're right about it becoming more prominent because of club in-house content around training. I think also the fact that...these deals apply to not just sort of training kits worn on the training ground, but you're also talking about pre-match warmup kit. And obviously you see the pre-match warmup covered probably...more frequently than ever visually as part of broadcast these days." (link) 

The Kansas City Chiefs will sell corporate naming rights for their planned $3B dome venue in Kansas rather than transferring the Arrowhead Stadium moniker to the new building, according to President Mark Donovan. Slated to open in 2031, the facility is expected to seek a 20- to 25-year naming contract with an established corporate partner, while the current Missouri venue retains its original title through the end of the team's lease following the 2030 season. What are the Chiefs looking for in a new naming rights partner? Donovan said the team would first look for an established corporation with connections to the Chiefs organization and the region. Beyond that, he said a major consideration would be asking companies how they could specifically improve the new stadium, which is set to open in 2031. Donovan: "I have no idea what the name would be. We’re way, way early in the process. But I will pretty strongly commit that we will have something that will enhance the fans’ experience. They may not see it obviously, but behind the scenes, that’ll be part of it." (link)

The NFL issued a Sept. 7 memo requiring all franchises to display the exact same All-22 videoboard angle or static image during field goals and extra points, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss and Adam Schefter. The rule modification follows a viral post on X—which garnered nearly 17M views—by former Philadelphia Eagles, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Las Vegas Raiders analytics coach Ryan Paganetti, who analyzed a decade of television broadcasts from 2000 to 2023 during Bill Belichick's tenure with the New England Patriots. Paganetti discovered the stadium videoboard consistently displayed a reverse All-22 view during opposing field goal attempts—creating an optical illusion of a second set of offset goalposts—but never used the view during 52 analyzed kicks by the Patriots. While the NFL noted the Patriots operated within the rules at the time, it explained: "The modification is designed to ensure competitive equity. Teams were warned that violations will result in discipline." (link)

National television ad spending by wagering brands reached $269.8M through August 2026, marking a 40% YoY increase as prediction markets challenge established sportsbooks for market share. DraftKings and FanDuel captured nearly two-thirds of the total investment, while Kalshi claimed the third-largest share with a $41.4M outlay. Ad Age's Jon Springer notes the spending surge highlights the regulatory differences between the models, as prediction markets face standard federal tax rates compared to state levies like New York's 51% rate and can legally operate in states without legalized sports betting. A Bank of America study revealed Gen Z and Millennials account for 48% and 40% of online betting activity respectively, with lower-income households representing 37% of the user base. Industry marketers are now transitioning messaging from user acquisition to brand loyalty, prompting an anonymous sports agency executive to tell Springer: "There’s very little differentiation among these brands in the betting mechanics. The bets are the bets are the bets. There’s been some innovation there, but everybody copies it." (link)

Consumer software startups are fueling a boom in undisclosed user-generated content (UGC) marketing on platforms like TikTok, Meta and YouTube, paying creators to run secondary accounts promoting brands without ad labels, according to The Wall Street Journal's Celia Bernhardt. Startups including Aqua Voice, Deel, Grammarly, Kalshi, Brex, Polymarket, and Ferrix Labs leverage the stealth strategy, bypassing Federal Trade Commission guidelines so advertisements appear as relatable organic posts. Creators report earning between $1K and $2K per month for roughly five hours of weekly work, while one user generated $11K in a single month after her posts went viral. In another instance, a creator earned over $800 for an 11-second video that eclipsed 1M views. The ecosystem is supported by platforms like Sideshift, a creator marketplace featuring over one million registered accounts that connects companies with micro-influencers. The decentralized model capitalizes on social media algorithms that prioritize user interest over follower counts. Sideshift CEO Nick Lawton: "We’re trying to carve out this new type of labor force. Take regular everyday people, pay them $20 a video, have them post an extreme amount." (link)

Adweek’s Mark Ritson argues that the modern crisis management landscape forces brands and public figures into performative apologies for unintentional marketing missteps, even after immediately rectifying the errors. For instance, Converse recently pulled a campaign featuring K-pop star Karina and issued an apology after online critics claimed a star-shaped spotlight resembled a Ku Klux Klan hood. Similarly, English football club Oxford United removed "UNITED 93" apparel released on the anniversary of September 11 within two hours, yet still faced global media scrutiny, while musician Ed Sheeran apologized to a Philadelphia crowd of 60,000 for a venue dispute he did not orchestrate. Ritson contends that such accidental missteps warrant swift correction rather than protracted apologies: "Real harm, deliberately done, deserves an apology and consequences, and brands that drag their feet deserve everything they get. A mistake with no intent behind it deserves a correction. That’s all. 'We’ve withdrawn it' is a complete sentence. It does not need 'we understand.' It does not need 'we’ll do better.' It just requires everyone to calm down." (link)

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(Posted from most recent over the last 15 days)

(NEW!) Assistant Athletics Director - Athletics Marketing (Texas Christian University / Fort Worth, TX): The Assistant AD, Athletics Marketing leads the TCU Athletics marketing strategy, overseeing fan journey, data-driven engagement, fan experience, brand growth, and cross-departmental collaboration. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Assistant Director, Marketing (Western Kentucky University / Bowling Green, KY): Manage marketing efforts to include advertising, in-game promos, and student engagement for numerous sports. Develop partnerships with various organizational groups. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Producer - ESPN+ (Texas Tech University / Lubbock, TX): Texas Tech Athletics is looking for a Producer, ESPN+ to join its Broadcast Services team. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Commissioner (Southern Conference / Spartanburg, SC): Reporting to the Council of Presidents, the Commissioner serves as the Conference's chief executive officer, providing strategic, administrative, and external leadership for member institutions. More details HERE What would it cost to move to Spartanburg? Click HERE.

(NEW!) People Operations Coordinator, Athletics (University of Denver / Denver, CO): The People Operations Coordinator owns the day-to-day people operations of the business office — the systems, records, and logistics that make employment here work well. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Director of Hospitality and Premium Experiences (University of Kansas / Lawrence, KS): This position oversees all premium hospitality spaces, game-day hospitality operations and staffing while ensuring a best-in-class experience for Kansas Athletics donors and guests. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Director of Signature Events and Stewardship (University of Kansas / Lawrence, KS): This position develops/executes comprehensive stewardship programs, oversees donor recognition initiatives, manages signature events, and ensures meaningful donor engagement across all giving levels. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Assistant Business Manager (University of Texas – Austin / Austin, TX): To provide support assigned Sport Programs and Departments within Intercollegiate Athletics, in the areas of budget management, travel, procure to pay, and related business functions. More details HERE.

Assistant Director of Stewardship & Hospitality (University of Missouri / Columbia, MO): This position provides support in the planning, coordination, and execution of stewardship, hospitality, donor recognition, and engagement initiatives for the Mizzou Athletics Fund. More details HERE.

Director of Development (University of Missouri / Columbia, MO): This position manages a regional portfolio of alumni, donors, and prospective supporters while serving as a frontline fundraiser for the department. More details HERE.

Assistant Director of Development, Leadership Annual Giving, Athletics (University of Denver / Denver, CO): The Assistant Director will manage a portfolio of leadership annual giving and major gift-rated prospects, with an emphasis on qualifying new donors, and developing a pipeline for future major gifts. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Director for Corporate Partnerships (Virginia Military Institute – VMI / Lexington, VA): Leads VMI Athletics' corporate partnership efforts by generating new revenue, securing sponsors, managing partner relationships, and developing sponsorship opportunities. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Director, Development (Washington State University / Pullman or Seattle, WA): WSU Athletics is hiring 2 positions for Assistant Director of Athletics, Development, at either the Director of Development 4 or 5 level. Positions may be based in Pullman, WA, or Seattle, WA. More details HERE.

Athletics Videographer I/II (Florida Gulf Coast University / Fort Myers, FL): The Athletics Videographer manages the design and development of all aspects of video production for FGCU Athletics. More details HERE.

Major Gift Officer (University of Washington / Seattle, WA): Washington Athletics has an outstanding opportunity for a Major Gift Officer to join their team. More details HERE.

Assistant Director of Development (University of Missouri / Columbia, MO): Seeking someone to secure philanthropic support through the identification and cultivation of donors by managing a regional portfolio of prospects and serving as a frontline fundraiser. More details HERE.

Marketing & Revenue Strategy Coordinator (Full-Time Temporary) (University of Nebraska / Lincoln, NE): Coordinate digital marketing messaging and efforts across digital platforms to develop and grow audiences. UNL ranked among the best places to work in the state and the nation! More details HERE.

Assistant Athletics Director of Media & Creative Strategy (Wright State University / Dayton, OH): Lead creative efforts to maximize athletics revenue, including several conference champions & NCAA tournament regulars. Join a department with a ton of opportunity, momentum & a growing brand. More details HERE.

Bulldog Club (Fellow) (Mississippi State University / Starkville, MS): The Bulldog Club supports Mississippi State Athletics through a fellowship focusing on fundraising techniques, donor stewardship, event coordination, and Paciolan software management. More details HERE.

Assistant Director, Ticket Sales & Retention (Auburn University / Auburn, AL): Join our Ticket Sales team and be part of the energy behind Auburn Athletics—where every connection counts and every gameday experience matters! More details HERE.

Program Coordinator, Athletic Video Production (University of Toledo / Toledo, OH): Assists Toledo Athletics in creating video and digital content that promotes varsity sports, drives ticket sales and fundraising, supports recruiting, and enhances the game-day fan experience. More details HERE.

Director of Athletics (University of Detroit Mercy / Detroit, MI): Lead an NCAA Division I athletics program focused on student-athlete success, competitive excellence, strategic growth, financial sustainability, and strong community engagement. More details HERE What would it cost to move to Detroit? Click HERE.

Director of Marketing - Athletics (Abilene Christian University / Abilene, TX): This position reports to the Executive Associate Athletics Director for External Operations. More details HERE.

Assistant Director, Athletic Communications Strategy (R0009147) (Wake Forest University / Winston-Salem, NC): Works with internal/external constituents to heighten Wake Forest University's visibility and brand awareness. More details HERE.

Asst AD - Digital Marketing and Revenue Strategy (University of California – San Diego / La Jolla, CA): The University of California San Diego is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Asst AD - Digital Marketing and Revenue Strategy. More details HERE.

Director of Athletic Multimedia (Virginia Military Institute – VMI / Lexington, VA): Leads VMI Athletics' live broadcasts and multimedia production, including ESPN+ events, game-day video operations, digital content, equipment, staffing, and promotion of teams and cadet-athletes. More details HERE.

Sports Information Director (Virginia Military Institute – VMI / Lexington, VA): Leads communications and media relations for assigned VMI sports, managing digital content, statistics, game-day coverage, media requests, and promotion of cadet-athletes and teams. More details HERE.

Development Officer/Senior Development Officer - Athletics (Bucknell University / Lewisburg, PA): Bucknell University is seeking talented, relationship-driven Athletics Development Officers and Senior Development Officers to join our growing University Advancement team. More details HERE.

Sports Information Director (University of Alabama at Birmingham / Birmingham, AL): Serves as Director of Media Relations for the Athletics Department. Coordinates all media activities and related publications. More details HERE.

Director - Premium Seating & Gifts (Athletics) (Georgia Tech / Atlanta, GA): Responsible for GT Athletics premium seating and suite sales. Assess, cultivate, solicit, and steward annual gifts from donors identified through the premium seating process. More details HERE.

Associate Director of Marketing & Fan Experience (University of Mississippi / Oxford, MS): The Associate Dir of Marketing & Fan Experience will support the marketing department efforts for fan & student engagement initiatives at Ole Miss, working to create memorable & unique experiences. More details HERE.

Director of Marketing, Athletics (Villanova University / Villanova, PA): Cooperatively manage all aspects of Athletics marketing to include strategic branding, social media/digital strategies, game day experience, fan engagement, promotions, and attendance enhancement. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletics Director, Ticket Operations (Villanova University / Villanova, PA): Responsible for the day-to-day activities of the athletic ticket office including, but not limited to the building, processing, and reporting of season and single game ticketed athletic events. More details HERE.

Member Services Internship (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill / Chapel Hill, NC): Interns will gain hands-on experience in donor relations, database management, and event coordination within a fast-paced collegiate athletics space. Interns serve as primary contacts for members. More details HERE.

Assistant Director Of Fan Relations and Sales (Oklahoma State University / Stillwater, OK): Drive ticket sales and retention through exceptional service while leading student staff. Manage phone, SMS, email, ticketing transactions, staffing, training, sales pipelines, and game-day operations. More details HERE.

Senior Associate Commissioner for Basketball (Big South Conference / Charlotte, NC): A senior leadership position responsible for providing strategic vision, administrative leadership, and innovative direction for the Conference's men's and women's basketball programs. More details What would it cost to move to Charlotte? Click HERE.

Associate Commissioner for Strategic Communications (Southeastern Conference / Birmingham, AL): The Associate Commissioner for Strategic Communications will provide strategic leadership for the Southeastern Conference's communication efforts. More details HERE.

Assistant Director of Ticket Operations (United States Air Force Academy / Colorado Springs, CO): Assistant Director of Ticket Operations. More details HERE.

Assistant Director - Licensing (University Athletic Association, Inc. at the University of Florida / Gainesville, FL): Assist in daily operation of Licensing department. Approve/promote correct use of logos/images/trademarks on retail and internal merchandise. Build relationships with licensing partners. More details HERE.

Assistant Director, Athletics Communication (University of Illinois / Champaign/Urbana, IL): Lead and execute all communications and social media strategies and coordinate media coverage for assigned sports. More details HERE.

Assistant Director, Revenue Enhancement (Kennesaw State University / Kennesaw, GA): Supports revenue growth for KSU Athletics by driving ticket sales, fundraising, partnerships, and events while building donor and alumni relationships to increase support and achieve strategic goals. More details HERE.

Assistant Director, Bronco Productions (Boise State University / Boise, ID): Requires experience shooting/editing cinematic & creative content for D1 athletic social media channels & in-venue publication. Act as sport contact for multiple teams while working within a team. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Director, Annual Giving and Premium Seating (University of Colorado – Boulder / Boulder, CO): This position and its team are tasked with stewarding donors, engaging alumni and other constituents, promoting the reputation of the CU Athletics, and increasing overall donor support for CU Boulder. More details HERE.

Director of Annual Giving (HR Title: Mngr, Athletics Development) - (DEA00000507) (Southern Methodist University – SMU / Dallas, TX): The Director of Annual Giving leads and executes SMU Athletics annual giving programs and serves as the lead annual giving officer for the Mustang Club. More details HERE.

Associate AD for Development (HR title: Director of Strategic Development) - (DEA00000505) (Southern Methodist University – SMU / Dallas, TX): The Associate AD for Development provides strategic leadership for SMU Athletics major and principal gift fundraising. More details HERE.

Assistant or Associate Athletic Director, Business Operations/SWA (Sacred Heart University / Fairfield, CT): Provides operational leadership for Athletics' business functions. Oversees financial management, budgeting, purchasing, contracts, revenue and expense tracking to ensure fiscal responsibility. More details HERE.

Assistant Director of Creative Services (Revenue and Supportive Content) (University of San Diego / San Diego, CA): The Assistant Director of Creative Services (Revenue Content) serves as the department's primary creative producer focused on revenue-generating initiatives. More details HERE.

Assistant Director for Business Services (University of Connecticut / Storrs Mansfield, CT): The University of Connecticut is seeking applications for the full-time position of Assistant Director for Business Services. More details HERE.

Sr. Manager, Engagement (Hurricane Club) (University of Miami / Miami, FL): The Senior Manager, Engagement of Hurricane Club collaborates on the strategy, operations, donor engagement, and member experience for the Hurricane Club. More details HERE.

Manager, Digital Strategy (University of Miami) (Legends / Coral Gables, FL): Lead the creation and management of highly effective digital campaigns for assigned sport(s) and channels with the goal of enhancing brand awareness, increasing engagement and driving revenue. More details HERE.

Assistant Director/Associate Director - Athletic Communications (Auburn University / Auburn, AL): Amplify Auburn Athletics through impactful storytelling, media relations, and communications strategies that spotlight student-athletes and program success. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Director, Development (Butler University / Indianapolis, IN): The Assistant Athletic Director/Development position will serve as a gift officer on behalf of the Athletic Department. More details HERE.

Assistant Director, Sports Communications (Boise State University / Boise, ID): The ideal candidate will have experience managing sports information for softball/ volleyball programs & a demonstrated ability to prepare student-athletes for media appearances & press opportunities. More details HERE.

Director / Digital Marketing & Revenue (Virginia Tech / Blacksburg, VA): Oversee digital initiatives that drive ticket sales, retention, fan engagement, donor engagement and other revenue-generating opportunities across Virginia Tech Athletics. More details HERE.

Assistant Director, Marketing (University of Texas – Austin / Austin, TX): An essential member of the external affairs staff with an emphasis on coordination of tasks necessary to support the fan experience, promotional activities and sponsor integration for assigned sports. More details HERE.

Director of Athletics (Campbell University / Buies Creek, NC): Lead a growing NCAA Division I athletics program in the CAA, advancing competitive excellence, student-athlete success and community impact in North Carolina's Research Triangle. More details HERE What would it cost to move to Buies Creek? Click HERE.

Assistant Director of Motion Graphics - Creative Services (University Athletic Association, Inc. at the University of Florida / Gainesville, FL): Lead the creative direction, design, and production of high-impact motion graphics and animated video board content. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Director, Revenue Generation (Southern Methodist University – SMU / Dallas, TX): Lead SMU Athletics' revenue generation team, driving ticket sales, donor growth, and premium seating strategies while maximizing fan engagement and revenue. More details HERE.

Associate VP & Chief Commercial Officer/Chief Revenue Officer (Ohio State University / Columbus, OH): Responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive revenue growth strategy for the Department of Athletics and Buckeye Enterprises at The Ohio State University. More details HERE.

Assistant Director, Strategic Communications (University of Nevada – Reno / Reno, NV): Responsible for the Intercollegiate Athletics Department's publicity and external communications efforts through the department's media services and video efforts, as well as its official website. More details HERE.

Fulfillment Manager (Corporate Sponsorships) (University of Denver / Denver, CO): The Fulfillment Manager is responsible for the activation, execution, and relationship management of every corporate partnership at University of Denver Athletics. More details HERE.

Sports Media Content Specialist (University of Texas – Arlington / Arlington, TX): Creates digital content for UTA Athletics social media, recruiting, marketing and promotions, including video, photography and graphics, while supporting assigned sports and following brand standards. More details HERE.

Assistant Director, Strategic Communications (University of Central Florida / Orlando, FL): UCFAA at the University of Central Florida, an NCAA Division I institution and Big XII Conference member, is seeking applications for the position of Assistant Director, Strategic Communications. More details HERE.

Director, Business Office (Spartan Ventures / East Lansing, MI): This role, in conjunction with the Spartan Ventures CFO, will manage all financial activity related to the organization and contribute directly to the success of Michigan State University Athletics. More details HERE.