Gopher Athletics, Learfield’s Gopher Sports Properties, and Visible bring first-ever helmet bumper partnership to Minnesota football
At a glance
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.—Gopher Athletics and Learfield’s Gopher Sports Properties announced today a landmark partnership with Visible, the digital-first wireless carrier powered by Verizon’s network, naming the brand the first-ever helmet bumper partner of Minnesota Football.
Beginning September 12, the Visible logo will appear on the back of every Minnesota football helmet, making the Gophers one of the first programs in college athletics—and the first Learfield university partner—to feature a corporate brand on its football helmet.
The new helmet bumper will make its debut in a marquee national television moment when Minnesota hosts Mississippi State at Huntington Bank Stadium. The matchup will air on CBS at 2:30 p.m. CT and serve as Minnesota’s “Gold Out,” filling the stadium with the team’s signature color for the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
“As college athletics continues to evolve, it’s important that we identify innovative opportunities that strengthen our programs and department and continue to help provide a world-class experience for our student-athletes,” said Thomas O. Moe, Director of Athletics Mark Coyle. “We are excited to welcome Visible and proud to be among the first programs in the country to introduce helmet bumper branding. This partnership reflects the continued momentum of our department and our commitment to building relationships with organizations that invest in the future of Gopher Athletics.”
Following the NCAA’s recent approval of placing commercial logos on college athletic uniforms, the branded helmet bumper has emerged as one of the newest and most notable sponsorship opportunities in college sports. Minnesota is among the first programs to bring the opportunity to life, placing Visible at the center of the action as the Gophers compete on one of college football’s largest stages in the Big Ten.
“Appearing on every Minnesota football helmet gives Visible a bold presence on one of college football’s biggest stages,” said David Kim, President at Verizon Value. “We’re proud to partner with Gopher Athletics on this first-of-its-kind opportunity and to bring Visible to Minnesota fans in a way that is distinctive and true to our brand. As we continue to build our presence in the Twin Cities, we’re excited to be part of this moment in Gopher Athletics and connect with the passionate community that supports the team.”
For Visible, the partnership marks a significant new presence in the Twin Cities and a distinctive way for the brand to connect with Minnesota fans. The helmet placement puts Visible directly into the game-day experience as the Gophers compete on a national stage, introducing the brand to fans through one of the newest sponsorship opportunities in college athletics.
“Helmet branding represents a new opportunity in college sports, and Minnesota is one of the first programs to bring this to life with a national brand,” said Kim Damron, President of Sports Properties at Learfield. “Mark and his team at Gopher Athletics continue to demonstrate leadership in how they approach new opportunities to generate meaningful value for their brand partners, their programs and their student-athletes to support the continued success of Gopher Athletics.”
This partnership was facilitated in collaboration with Learfield’s Gopher Sports Properties, the exclusive media rightsholder for Gopher Athletics, and the Learfield corporate partnership team.
About Visible
Visible is Verizon’s digital-first wireless service, offering unlimited data, messages, minutes, and hotspot, powered by Verizon, 5G included. On a mission to dramatically change the wireless service experience, Visible has been named to Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list and has been named “Best Telecom Brand” in Adweek’s Challenger Brand Awards. Known for its commitment to giving back to the community it serves, Visible’s social impact platform, Connection Protection, offers three months of wireless service to eligible members at no cost to ensure those who get laid off won’t lose their wireless plan, too.
Visible is a division of Verizon and powered by Verizon’s award-winning networks. For more information, visit visible.com or search for our service in the App Store or the Play Store.
About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.
