Minnesota inks first helmet bumper ad sponsorship deal with Verizon’s Visible

Minnesota football is entering a new era of sponsorships. Gopher Athletics and Learfield's Gopher Sports Properties announced Friday that Minnesota has reached a partnership with Visible , the digital-first wireless carrier powered by Verizon's network.

As part of the agreement , Visible will become the first-ever helmet bumper partner for Minnesota football. Beginning Sept. 12, the Visible logo will appear on the back of every Golden Gophers football helmet.

The move makes Minnesota one of the first college football programs to feature a corporate brand on its helmet and the first Learfield partner to do so. The new helmet bumper will debut when Minnesota hosts Mississippi State at Huntington Bank Stadium. That matchup will air nationally on CBS at 2:30 p.m. CT and will also serve as Minnesota's "Gold Out."

"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," Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle said in a release.

The agreement comes after the NCAA recently approved commercial logos on college athletic uniforms, opening another potential revenue stream for athletic departments. Minnesota is among the first schools to take advantage.

"We are excited to welcome Visible and proud to be among the first programs in the country to introduce helmet bumper branding," Coyle said. "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."

Moreover, Visible will receive a prominent placement on Minnesota's helmets throughout the season, putting the company directly into the Gophers' game-day presentation and national television appearances.

David Kim, president at Verizon Value, called the partnership a unique opportunity for Visible as it continues growing its presence in the Twin Cities: "Appearing on every Minnesota football helmet gives Visible a bold presence on one of college football's biggest stages," Kim said. "We're proud to partner with Gopher Athletics on this first-of-its-kind opportunity."

Continuing, the sponsorship represents another example of the changing commercial landscape across college athletics. Revenue generation has become increasingly important as athletic departments navigate revenue sharing and other financial changes throughout the sport. Uniform and helmet branding now provides schools with another asset to sell to corporate partners.

"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," Learfield president of Sports Properties Kim Damron said.

All told, the Visible branding will make its first appearance against Mississippi State, which will mark the first-ever meeting between the Gophers and Bulldogs. For Minnesota, it will also mark the beginning of a new kind of partnership, one that will be visible on every snap.