Academy Sports + Outdoors has signed on as the Official Sporting Goods and Outdoor Retailer of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). This multi-year partnership gives Academy Sports exposure and marketing assets across men’s and women’s basketball, conference championship events and the events and content surrounding the MEAC’s 50th anniversary.
Located in Norfolk, VA, the MEAC is made up of 11 historically black institutions: Bethune-Cookman University, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, and South Carolina State University.
“We are extremely excited to partner with Academy Sports + Outdoors as they engage with our conference and member institutions,” MEAC Commissioner Dennis E. Thomas said.
Academy’s Community Engagement Platform and Market Moments Campaign will also be showcased at several MEAC member institutions. The Community Engagement Platform will allow each member institution to collaborate with Academy in their local markets highlighting schools, youth teams and local initiatives.
“Whether MEAC fans are already loyal Academy customers or discovering our brand for the first time, we’re excited to showcase our assortment of fun sports, outdoors and recreational products while implementing impactful community-focused initiatives,” said Lawrence Lobpries, Academy Sports + Outdoors’ Senior Vice President of Marketing.
The multi-year partnership with the CIAA will focus on establishing meaningful community initiatives across established markets within the CIAA footprint. Specifically, these initiatives will look to activate and amplify grassroots efforts, such as youth outreach and mentoring programs, that are inclusive of student-athletes and administrators from across the conference.
“We’re excited to be partnering with Academy Sports + Outdoors. This is a great opportunity to work jointly with an industry leader to develop impactful programming within our communities,” said CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams. “We value partnerships that provide our members with access to resources and opportunities while allowing our conference to uniquely engage our fans and alumni through collaborative efforts.”
The CIAA partnership will provide Academy Sports exposure and engagement with the fan base throughout the CIAA during conference championships and events and social media while seeking additional opportunities to elevate the HBCU experience together.
