May 17, 2023 (Berwyn, Pa.) – Playfly Sports, the emerging leading sports marketing, media, and technology, today announced HBCU Elevate, an initiative that directly connects leading brands to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the United States. In a single deal, brands can activate with 10 HBCU athletic departments and surrounding communities, driving brand new revenue directly back to those athletic departments and student-athletes. The HBCU Elevate platform is being activated in partnership with the Leon Frank Agency, an experiential marketing agency specializing in the HBCU landscape.
This first-of-its-kind sponsorship platform, focusing primarily on HBCUs in mid-to-large markets, includes turnkey brand integration, media opportunities, digital activations and more to deliver access to fans and campuses rich in history, pride, and year-round engagement. HBCU colleges and universities participating in the program include Bethune-Cookman, Coppin State, Edward Waters, Florida Memorial, Lane College, North Carolina A&T, Savannah State, Tennessee State, Morgan State, South Carolina State, and select championship events of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
“HBCU Elevate has created a unique platform to connect brands and HBCUs at a local level in a new way that significantly benefits all parties involved,” said Christy Hedgpeth, President of Playfly Sports Properties. “HBCUs represent just 3% of colleges in the United States, yet graduate over 22% of African Americans who hold an undergraduate degree. More than ever before, this opens up new opportunities for strategic partnerships and growth for universities that generate over $14 billion dollars in economic activity each year. There is a renewed interest by brands in reaching this important demographic, and HBCU Elevate provides first-of-its kind on the ground access across the HBCU game day where fans are engaging with the teams they love.”
Part of Playfly Sports’ continued commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, HBCU Elevate not only benefits partnering brands, but also creates new opportunities for participating colleges and universities. Some benefits include student-athlete, administrator, and university resources, as well as a significant increase in sponsorship revenue and an elevated school profile through national representation. Each participating HBCU will also receive custom insights packages to help drive smarter decision-making, creative assistance for digital and static assets, and career development programs such as augmented access to the annual Black Student Athlete Summit.
