SponsorUnited

Introducing SPND: the industry's only technology solution for sponsorship pricing transparency. The game has changed. https://lnkd.in/eK5bH9Gu #sponsorships #partnerships #AI #innovation

ESPN’s Michele Steele takes a deep dive into the top NIL earners in college sports—spotlighting standout athletes like RJ Davis and JuJu Watkins, with insights pulled from our latest NIL report. The story highlights how today’s most marketable college athletes are capturing attention well beyond the scoreboard—through audience reach, brand alignment, and cultural impact. The full report is available for download—check the comments for the link. https://lnkd.in/djkT2PBu #NIL #endorsements #brandmarketing #sponsorships

As the NCAA Final Four approaches, Forbes explores how women athletes are redefining success in the NIL era—drawing from insights in our latest NIL report. The piece highlights how brands are leveraging college athletes in different ways—from capitalizing on March Madness exposure to building long-term relationships with rising stars. “Brands are getting smarter—and more strategic—about how they approach NIL. Some are going all-in on high-profile athletes to maximize exposure during marquee events like March Madness, while others are placing early bets on under-the-radar talent with big upside.” - Bob Lynch, Founder & CEO, SponsorUnited Download the full report with the link in comments. https://lnkd.in/exUyG7Rw

Our 2024–25 NIL Endorsements Report is now live—and here is a trend that stands out: 📈 Technology and Non-Alcoholic Beverage brands are surging, with NIL deals growing 29% and 19% year-over-year. While some categories are pulling back, these two are leaning in with personalized, athlete-first campaigns that prioritize innovation and performance. Whether it’s smart integrations with gaming or wellness-focused drinks built for Gen Z, these brands are reshaping what effective NIL partnerships look like. Explore all the data, insights, and standout activations in the full report:  https://lnkd.in/erypsCmn #NIL #Sponsorship #CollegeAthletes #SportsMarketing #Endorsements

🚨 Baseball is back — and so are the jersey patch sponsors. As we enter the first full week of the MLB season, 25 of 30 teams now feature a brand logo on their jersey sleeve. What started as a slow rollout in 2023 has quickly evolved into one of the league’s most visible—and valuable—assets. From local retailers to global powerhouses, brands are making strategic plays to align with fan passion, regional relevance, and national exposure. 🔎 In our latest blog, we break down: • The 2 new sponsors added in 2025 • The industries dominating the space • The 5 teams still without a patch • And which brand has doubled down with two teams ⚾️ Read the full breakdown here: https://lnkd.in/eGryhN5U #MLB #Sponsorship #JerseyPatch #BrandStrategy #MLBOpeningWeek

While 2024 marked a true breakout year for women’s sports, 2025 is already proving to be the year brands double down within the dazzlingly dynamic realm of female athletics. According to our 2024–25 Women in Sports report, sponsorships across women’s sports grew 12% year-over-year, outpacing the 8% rise across men’s pro leagues. Rather than a fleeting flash of progress, this momentum signals a growing trend fueled by athlete stardom, league expansion, and a cultural shift toward equity, visibility, and purpose-driven partnerships. https://lnkd.in/e3ZNRKwW #womensports #NWSL #WNBA #LPGA

CFOs and Procurement leaders are stepping into the sponsorship spotlight. As deals get more complex, their roles are expanding—from evaluating ROI to shaping strategy and spend. We broke down how finance and marketing are aligning like never before. 📊 Read the insights: https://lnkd.in/eAt-d_r3 #Sponsorship #CFO #Procurement #MarketingStrategy #brandmarketing

As the road to the Sweet 16 heats up tonight, Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins aren’t just leading their teams—they’re leading a new era of athlete influence that brand marketers can’t afford to overlook. Both have signed 16 NIL deals, and their impact speaks volumes: 📲 Paige has driven nearly 5M in total social engagement 📲 JuJu is one of just four women’s NIL athletes with 1M+ in engagement Why does this matter for marketers? Because these aren’t just short-term endorsements—they’re early investments in long-term brand partners. These athletes are building loyal fanbases before they go pro, giving brands the opportunity to grow with them and build authentic relationships that scale over time. #NCAA #marchmadness #endorsements #partnerships

As the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs kick off the season in Japan, brands are making their presence felt across the league. In 2024, sponsorship in Major League Baseball (MLB) saw: 📊 2,271 brands with sponsorship assets/activity 💰$471K median spend per brand 📈 $519K average deal size With a huge range in deal sizes, there’s room for brands to carve out their own piece of the action. Just 830 deals (or 23.4%) are at or above the average spend of $519K, meaning approximately 77% of all team deals in MLB fall below this threshold. Want to see more details on sponsorship spend across the league? Learn more about SPND, our latest tool for tracking sponsorship investments. https://lnkd.in/eSFEjD5S #MLB #sponsorships #partnerships #brandmarketing

Today the The New York Times ran a piece highlighting the Shohei Ohtani effect and its massive impact on sponsorships. The article draws on SponsorUnited’s sponsorship data insights. 📈⚾ With Ohtani driving a 114% surge in MLB sponsorships in Japan and the Los Angeles Dodgers are poised to surpass the Cowboys as the top-earning team in Major League Sports, the numbers speak for themselves. And when Ohtani comes to town? Local sponsorships spike, with Japanese brands securing prime in-stadium ad placements to reach Japanese fans watching 5,500 miles away. #Sponsorships #SportsMarketing #MLB #Ohtani #Dodgers  https://lnkd.in/gBiekrqi