Author: Ryan Schroder

Florida State University Athletics and Legends, a global premium experiences company, announced today a new 10-year multimedia rights partnership

This agreement expands the relationship between FSU Athletics and Legends. Legends also currently supports premium seating for the $260 million renovation of Doak Campbell Stadium and manages hospitality, including concessions, premium suites and clubs, and catering for FSU Athletics.

“This partnership between Legends and Florida State Athletics creates a dynamic collaboration between like-minded organizations at a time when the importance of alignment has never been greater,” said Michael Alford, Vice President and Director of Athletics at Florida State. “Together we can capitalize on a limitless array of new opportunities for revenue streams while also maximizing our potential in established avenues as well. This will enable us to meet the growing needs of our student-athletes while also maintaining financial stability for the services we provide in areas of fan engagement and experience.”

Legends brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the partnership, having established itself as a trusted partner for numerous marquee institutions that are leveraging the company’s best-in-class expertise in revenue generation and premium experiences.

“Florida State University is a forward-thinking institution that understands the importance of aligning revenue streams to position for success in the new collegiate landscape,” said Mike Behan, President of Legends College. “The recent NCAA settlement has further emphasized the need for universities to explore innovative ways to optimize their commercial potential. Legends is proud that FSU has entrusted our team to build on our partnership to capitalize on this opportunity and further solidify its position as a trailblazer in collegiate sports.”

As part of the partnership, Legends will collaborate closely with Florida State Athletics to enhance multimedia rights, including broadcasting, licensing, and sponsorship opportunities. The company has formed Florida State Global Partnerships and will build a resolute staff that will be integrated with the FSU Athletics team to drive success for the multifaceted partnership.

This is the latest partnership for Legends burgeoning college business, which includes multimedia rights partnerships with the University of Notre Dame, the University of Miami, and Georgia Tech. Legends provides leading universities, collegiate organizations, and events with an industry-leading, comprehensive service solution covering research, project development, premium ticket sales, sponsorships, food and beverage, merchandise, business intelligence, marketing, and philanthropic fundraising and engagement.

Physical and Digital Channels: Legends, a global premium experiences company, will handle the sales of official merchandise for CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™.

Merchandise Available: Fans can purchase official merchandise including jerseys, scarves, hats, flags, pennants, pins, and other items with the CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™ branding.

The 48th edition of the world’s oldest and most exciting national team tournament will feature an official store where football fans can purchase exclusive competition products. Fans of the CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™ will be able to buy jerseys, scarves, hats, flags, pennants, pins, and other items in all of the 14 host cities in the United States, as well as online at https://store.copaamerica.com/.

“The CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™ will be an unprecedented event for the Confederation. We want all fans to experience and feel the grandeur of South American football, and this collaboration with Legends will bring us closer to that goal, as everyone interested can purchase exclusive tournament-branded products both physically and digitally,” said Alejandro Domínguez, President of CONMEBOL.

“We are very excited to partner with CONMEBOL and serve as the official merchandise provider for the CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™. Our team is designing and producing a wide range of exclusive apparel and novelty items for fans at each match and for those watching globally to commemorate this incredible event,” mentioned Kirta Carroll, President of Legends Global Merchandise.

The ALUM Brand will feature Luxury Residences and Member’s Clubs Designed to Elevate the College Town Experience

New real estate brand to deliver high-end hospitality, in partnership with premium experiences company Legends, to college towns with a strong sports culture

LAUNCHING TODAY — ALUM is an elevated stomping ground for discerning alumni. A reimagined home base away from home, the luxury residences and exclusive member’s club is a celebration of school spirit, built as a refined evolution of college town accommodation. With thoughtfully designed hospitality, private residences, and fan-focused programming, ALUM strengthens community ties to renowned institutions with legendary fan and alumni culture

A real estate brand focused on college town markets, ALUM redefines home game stays, offering owners world-class residences, award-winning food and beverage, a private club for socializing, and the option to have their properties expertly managed, maintained, and rented nightly when not in use. ALUM has partnered with global premium experiences company Legends, which has extensive experience in collegiate athletics and provides hospitality at some of the most well-known venues in the world. The partnership with Legends allows ALUM to tap into Legends’ strong relationships with university and athletic leadership and their industry-leading experience in assisting colleges and universities with identifying incremental revenue opportunities.

David Vialli, Co-Founder of ALUM, says,

“College towns are special places that hold immeasurable value in our hearts, and countless people travel to these cities every year for sports games and other events. ALUM was founded to celebrate these unique destinations and foster a deeper sense of camaraderie within them. We’re hopeful that ALUM will become a beloved institution embraced and enjoyed by the community, whether they’re alumni, faculty, students, family members, or visitors.”

Catered to alumni and parents of students and athletes who frequently visit, ALUM meets the increasing demand for luxury accommodation and enriched lifestyles often missing from college town experiences. Each ALUM will offer apartments with flexible layouts, site-specific architecture, and elevated design, combining state-of-the-art amenities and five-star service with the comforts of a private residence.

Additionally, ALUM will launch a short-term rental program, allowing owners to rent their condominiums when they are not occupied. From seamless online booking and check-in to housekeeping and maintenance, ALUM will oversee the entire process, ensuring owners peace of mind while earning additional income.

Legends will operate a year-round private member’s club and restaurant at each ALUM location and develop and execute a fundraising strategy to activate the local community. Legends will also provide market feasibility studies to identify new markets and support ALUM’s strategic expansion.

Mike Behan, President, Legends College, says,

“There is a white space in college markets for contemporary and flexible living solutions. ALUM answers to a growing segment of sophisticated consumers who want the best in hospitality, no matter where they are. We are excited to partner with ALUM to deliver an exceptional private membership and dining experience at each location that brings people together around their shared passion for the local university. This partnership is a natural extension of Legends’ focus for the past decade-plus on introducing new premium experiences across college campuses.”

ALUM will break ground this summer with its inaugural building in Tuscaloosa, Alabama home to The University of Alabama’s legendary sports teams. Expected to open in early 2026, the project will include luxury private residences, a private member’s club, award-winning food and drink, a coffee shop, meeting spaces, a pool, and event space. ALUM has plans to launch in additional markets, including:

Eugene, Oregon
College Station, Texas
Columbia, South Carolina
Knoxville, Tennessee
Columbus, Ohio
Athens, Georgia
Auburn, Alabama
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Norman, Oklahoma

In addition to these cities, Legends will support the exploration of future markets for ALUM throughout the United States. For more news on ALUM, including updates on sales launches and the development pipeline, please visit ALUMclubs.com.

Legends Operated Eight Retail Locations in Detroit Including a 5,115 Sq. Ft. Shop 

The NFL Shop presented by Visa at the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit proved to be the ultimate destination for fans during the week of the Draft. Legends, the official on-site retail merchandise concessionaire for the 2024 NFL Draft, announced a dramatic increase in merchandise sales for the Draft with a 45% overall revenue bump from 2023 in Kansas City. 

New in 2024, Legends rented a 5,115 square foot pop-up storefront in the heart of the Draft activities (Woodward Avenue, Detroit MI) to serve as the main NFL Shop presented by Visa. The store, which accounted for half of the merchandise sales for the week, was open for a full week – Friday, April 19 through Saturday, April 27 – to give fans lots of time to pick up their favorite team gear.  

In addition to the main NFL Shop, there were seven more NFL Shop pop-up shops – six within the NFL Draft Experience footprint and one location at the Draft. The Shops offered the largest collection of NFL Draft merchandise available anywhere, featuring products from 23 different licensees, including apparel, headwear, mini helmets, and pennants from all 32 NFL teams as well as exclusive Draft x Detroit Lions product. 

Merchandise centered around the hometown and home team were the biggest sellers, including Detroit and state of Michigan-themed t-shirts, hats, and novelties, as well as the Detroit Lions new look jersey (launched the week before the Draft) and hats. A Legends-designed and produced t-shirt featuring all 32 NFL teams’ unique NFL Draft logos was another hot item, as well as the Lions Draft logo tee and novelties. Special collection products included exclusive 47 Brand Draft Hats, Hugo Boss Draft and team branded merchandise, limited edition G-III Detroit Lions Varsity Jacket, and Rock ‘Em Socks Detroit-themed 3-pk of socks. 

The NFL Shop presented by Visa at the NFL Draft is managed by Legends, the NFL’s official on-site retail merchandise concessionaire for the 2024 NFL Draft. Legends also manage on-site retail at NFL tent pole events, including the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl Games, NFL Draft, and NFL Combine.

New York City FC today announced it has selected global premium experiences company Legends to manage all sales efforts for suites and premium seating for its new stadium being constructed at Willets Point in Queens, New York.

From now through the stadium’s opening in 2027, Legends will provide the Club with strategic consulting and go-to-market analysis, product design and development consultation, strategy and execution for premium and suite sales, initial valuation work, and valuable marketplace insights. Additionally, Legends will hire and build a dedicated team for New York City FC based in New York to focus on all sales and service execution.

“Our goal is to build and create the best stadium and fan experience in all of Major League Soccer, and we’re confident that Legends’ unmatched expertise in this space will help us accomplish this objective,” said Brad Sims, New York City FC CEO. “We’re excited to bring them on board as we work to build New York City’s first-ever soccer-specific stadium.”

“Our team is excited for this incredible opportunity to combine our deep knowledge in the New York market and experience in global football to bring New York City FC’s vision to life in their new stadium,” said Mike Ondrejko, President, Legends Global Sales. “It is a privilege to work alongside Brad and his team at New York City FC to imagine the possibilities in the first-ever soccer-specific stadium in New York City and serve their supporters by delivering a best-in-class experience.”

Earlier this month, the New York City Council voted overwhelmingly to approve the next phase of the Willets Point Redevelopment project, including New York City FC’s stadium. The new stadium will be 100% privately financed, seat approximately 25,000 people, and be the first fully electric sports stadium in New York City and all Major League Soccer.

New York City FC’s stadium will also be part of a new, 23-acre neighborhood at Willets Point, Queens developed by Queens Development Group — a joint venture of Related Companies and Sterling Equities. The neighborhood will be anchored by 2,500 new 100% affordable housing units, a new 650-seat public school, a brand-new hotel, and more than 150,000 square feet of public open space.

The Willets Point redevelopment project is estimated to generate $6.1 billion in economic activity, create 1,550 permanent jobs, and 14,200 construction jobs. To learn more about the project, visit newyorkcityfc.com/stadium.

The United Football League (UFL) today announced that Legends, a global premium experiences company and leading provider of innovative merchandise solutions, will serve as the Official Event and eCommerce Partner of the UFL.

Under this partnership, Legends’ Global Merchandise division will oversee event merchandise sales, including in-stadium shopping experiences for fans attending UFL events and eCommerce operations, including the League’s online retail platform, shop.theufl.com.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Legends as our exclusive event and eCommerce partner,” said Ryan Segers, Vice President of Consumer Products at the UFL. “Their proven track record of delivering high-quality merchandise and creating engaging fan experiences aligns perfectly with our vision for the UFL. Together, we aim to elevate the fan experience both online and in-person, setting a new standard for excellence in sports merchandise.”

Legends brings extensive experience in the sports and entertainment industry, specializing in creating unique merchandise programs that resonate with fans across the globe. Their expertise in eCommerce and event merchandise operations will be vital in enhancing the UFL fan experience and driving revenue growth for both parties.

The partnership between Legends and UFL will also see the company design and produce merchandise for the League.

“We are excited to partner with UFL to offer fans of all ages comprehensive merchandise offerings to sport their fandom and celebrate their favorite teams,” said Kirta Carroll, President, Legends Global Merchandise. “In addition to handling the league’s omnichannel merchandise, we are looking forward to partnering with the UFL to design and produce exclusive products for fans as a licensee partner.”

Click here for the 2024 schedule and broadcast details.

The Athletics and Legends today announced a partnership in which the global premium experiences company will manage premium seating and ticket sales for the Club’s new ballpark in Las Vegas. 

“We are excited to embark on this long-term partnership that will lead to the opening of our transformational ballpark in Las Vegas,” said A’s president Dave Kaval. “Legends’ extensive industry experience and intricate knowledge of the local market will help us create products that meet the needs of our fans while building a successful ballpark experience.”

Legends will deliver strategic consulting and go-to-market analysis, product design and development consultation, strategy and execution for premium and suite sales, initial valuation work, staffing, and valuable marketplace insights. Additionally, Legends will build a dedicated team for the A’s based in Las Vegas to focus on sales execution. 

“We are honored for the opportunity to partner with the A’s and help bring their bold vision of delivering a first-class hospitality experience to their fans and the Las Vegas community,” said Mike Ondrejko, President of Legends Global Sales. “From the moment we started working with Dave and his team on our initial feasibility study, there has been alignment in our data-driven approach in optimizing design and marketing strategy. We are excited to build on this collaboration by applying our global experience and expertise to serve the A’s on the sales execution of their new stadium.”  

The A’s initially engaged Legends in 2021 through its research arm, CSL, to conduct a comprehensive study on the opportunity for the Club to establish a new permanent home in Las Vegas. Legends’ Global Sales team has extensive experience partnering on the most ambitious sports projects, including the opening of Allegiant Stadium, SoFi Stadium, and Notre Dame Stadium, to deliver record-breaking results. Legends is also currently partnered with FC Barcelona, San Diego FC, and the Buffalo Bills in developing the financial model, stadium design, data capture and analysis, and strategic planning to support the sales execution efforts of their respective stadium development projects.

Blueprint Sports and Legends bring an enhanced professional solution for NIL collectives at Power Five universities nationwide.

Legends, a global premium experiences company, and Blueprint Sports (BPSE), the industry leader in full-service name, image, and likeness (NIL) collectives, have formed a strategic partnership that will provide NIL collectives and Power Five universities with an unmatched NIL infrastructure, bolstering professional operational capacities, service offerings, and NIL industry expertise. The result will be the industry-leading NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) solution, setting the standard for NIL and student-athlete sports marketing.

Legends College and Blueprint Sports will collaborate to support student-athletes and the rapidly evolving college athletics NIL landscape. Together, they will amplify and build sustainable revenue opportunities for NIL collectives under the BPSE umbrella, focusing on philanthropic fundraising, student-athlete sponsorships, memberships, exclusive events, and merchandise fulfillment.

“The college athletics landscape has undergone rapid transformation,” stated Mike Behan, President of Legends College. “Through our close collaboration with partners during this dynamic period, Legends is acutely aware of the significant opportunities stemming from NIL, as well as the challenge in establishing sustainable revenue models for NIL collectives. Our partnership with Blueprint Sports is positioned to address this challenge, offering an unparalleled solution for universities and NIL collectives to generate long-term revenue in support of student-athletes.”

“Balancing the traditional institutional legacy of college athletics with the new era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) can be a delicate task,” said Rob Sine, CEO of Blueprint Sports. “Our collaboration with Legends enables our teams to combine their extensive knowledge, proven track records, and resources to provide the most comprehensive and forward-facing solution to an industry undergoing tremendous change. Our goal is to continue guiding the college sports industry, athletic departments, conferences, and collectives in the right direction while maximizing the impact of NIL on student-athletes and their programs.”

Both companies have partnerships involving the University of Kansas, the University of Maryland, the University of Utah, and Villanova University. BPSE powers collectives that support student-athletes at each university, and Legends College’s partnerships with each span multiple services across the company’s holistic solution. These universities will be the first to benefit from Legends and BPSE’s new strategic partnership. Across its portfolio, BPSE powers collectives at more than 25 universities nationwide, including twelve Power-Five universities, presenting an incredible opportunity for both companies to grow and expand within the industry together.   

Legends’ college business has grown exponentially over the past 10-plus years and includes partnerships with leading universities, collegiate organizations, and events. Born out of the impact Legends continues to have across the collegiate landscape, Legends College was launched in November 2023 and provides a 360-degree service solution including research, project development, premium ticket sales, sponsorships, food and beverage, merchandise, business intelligence, marketing and philanthropic fundraising and engagement. The partnership with BPSE expands and enhances Legends’ NIL proficiency across its services.