DEKALB, Ill. – On Friday, January 23,, the NCAA Division I Cabinet announced that it has voted to pass the option to allow sponsored jersey patches during competition. With the result of the vote, NIU Athletics and its multimedia rights provider, Van Wagner, are working together to bring this historic asset and opportunity to the marketplace.

In the 2024-25 athletic season, Van Wagner delivered a historic milestone for NIU Athletics by securing the first two corporate partner logos ever featured on the Huskie Stadium playing surface: Jersey Mike's and Rock Valley Credit Union. The move sparked widespread media attention and established NIU and its partners as trailblazers in the evolving college athletics marketplace.
 
"As college athletics continues to evolve, so do our efforts to generate impactful revenue for NIU Athletics," said Dan Bieritz, General Manager for Huskie Athletic Sponsorships. "We look forward to finding the right partners who want an ownership opportunity to showcase their brand with Huskie fans across the country."
 
Previously, the only commercial logo permitted on game jerseys was the equipment or apparel manufacturer. With the latest NCAA rule change, it will open the door for an additional patch to be added to the jerseys. 

For more information on the topic, please contact Huskie Athletic Sponsorships General Manager Dan Bieritz (dbieritz@huskiesas.com, 630-649-3525) or NIU Senior Associate Athletics Director/Collegiate Advancement & External Affairs, Ryan Sedevie (rsedevie@niu.edu).