The Florida State Seminole brand now has more opportunities for new revenue streams that could generate millions of dollars for the athletic department.
Nearly two years after the NCAA allowed universities to sell football field ad space, the NCAA Division I Cabinet approved commercial jersey patches for athletic teams, effective this August. Division I teams may have up to two sponsor patches on regular-season uniforms, each no larger than 4 square inches, alongside the manufacturers’ and conference
logos already permitted.
Starting on August 1st, teams competing can display two logo patches on uniforms and one patch on equipment. An additional logo patch will be permitted during conference championships. The committee will explore options for the postseason placement of logos for March Madness, the College World Series, and other NCAA playoff tournaments. New sponsors advertising logos that compete with NCAA sponsors will not be permitted.
The College Football Playoff, which is not an official NCAA championship, is also looking to allow commercial sponsor patches on the team uniforms of the teams playing in its postseason tournament.
Here is the official NCAA release:
The Division I Cabinet on Friday approved a proposal that will allow Division I sports programs to place additional commercial logos or patches on uniforms, equipment and apparel for any non-NCAA championship competition, including the regular season.
“College sports are in an exciting new era of increased financial benefits for student-athletes, and the Cabinet’s vote today reflects the ongoing commitment of Division I members to drive additional revenues and fully fund those benefits,” said Josh Whitman, athletics director at Illinois and chair of the Cabinet. “This also continues the NCAA’s efforts to expand flexibility in areas of NCAA rules, thereby allowing schools and conferences to set standards that reflect their values and serve their unique needs. This important policy change is another step forward in advancing that philosophy and providing members with increased flexibility.”
Effective Aug. 1, all Division I teams will be permitted up to two additional commercial logos on their uniforms and apparel and one additional commercial logo on equipment during the preseason and regular season, with an additional commercial logo on uniforms and apparel for conference championships. The patches will be limited to a maximum of 4 square inches per logo.
Restrictions on the placement of the logos will be addressed by the respective playing rules subcommittees, oversight committees and sport committees (for National Collegiate championship sports), with the continued expectation that logos must be placed outside of designated sections of uniforms as necessary for officiating purposes.
The Cabinet also supported NCAA staff efforts to explore possible policies for teams to wear commercial patches during NCAA Championships, in collaboration with NCAA corporate marketing and media rights partners.
Earlier this month, the Sports Business Journal reported that its research has shown college football and basketball teams could potentially earn between $500,000 and $12 million from their sponsors’ patches. The exact placement of logo patches on uniforms and equipment will be determined on a sport-by-sport basis by the respective sports’ rules and oversight committees and subcommittees.
Florida State has just over 6 months to find a sponsor willing to put its logo on FSU football uniforms. What logos do you think would match well with the FSU brand, and which ones would you really like to see?
I know whose logo I would love to see on the Noles’ uniforms. How about you?
