While the NCAA is weighing whether to approve jersey patches on its schools’ uniforms next season, UNLV is not waiting on a decision to line one up. The school will put patches on its football, men’s and women’s basketball and baseball uniforms next season after it cut a five-year, $11 million deal with Acesso Biologics.
The jersey patch deal between the school and the Las Vegas-based regenerative medicine company is believed to be the first known completed one across college sports. LSU said this fall that it has a jersey patch deal in place, but has not disclosed any specifics or made a formal announcement. Learfield Sports, which manages sponsorships and media rights for the school and works with other universities across the country, brokered the sponsorship for UNLV.
“In the world of college athletics right now, it’s extremely important we find ways to generate revenue,” UNLV athletic director Erick Harper said. “Obviously, this still has to be approved by the NCAA …. With the anticipation of it going through, it shows we’re on the forefront.”
The patch itself will be similar in size to the one marketing its apparel partner, which, Harper said, needs to be large enough to be seen but not so large as to look gaudy.
Next month, the NCAA is expected to vote on and approve sponsored jersey patches, which would open up a new frontier for schools to bring in more money to field their athletic programs. As of now, only the logos for a school’s apparel or equipment partner are allowed.
The NCAA’s Division I Administrative Committee introduced a proposal in October to change that. If the proposal is accepted, the NCAA would allow schools to put two more logos on their uniforms and one on their equipment. The change would take effect next August. Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman, who chairs the committee, said the NCAA wants to “modernize” its rules so schools can bring in more revenue.
Harper said the athletic department did not want to wait for a resolution to act. Generating revenue is now a top priority for schools, now that they can pay players directly for their name, image and likeness rights through the House settlement, and as they still need to fund facilities and coaching salaries.
“There’s always a concern that something doesn’t go through, but I think we have to think more positively and think that this is something that the NCAA and the voting parties will determine that this is best for our student athletes, not to make it look like a billboard on their jerseys,” Harper said.
The deal came together through a relationship between Acesso CEO Michael Aquino and Dan Dolby, who serves as general manager of UNLV’s sports properties for Learfield Sports. They both coach youth baseball locally — Aquino coaches his grandson’s baseball team — and they got to know each other throughout the years. Dolby ultimately sourced the deal for UNLV. It came together over roughly three months and ahead of the NCAA’s vote. Harper said the need to bring in more revenue had become a competitive issue in recruiting for the athletic department as it sought to keep up.
Kim Damron, president of Learfield Sports Properties, said more jersey patch deals are already in the works. The company works with over 100 schools and has prepared partnerships in anticipation of the NCAA’s approval.
“And you know, I think we’ll see the continued need for revenue from the schools and continued commercialization of college, we absolutely hope to have a few more announced in the near future as well,” Damron said.