UMKC expanded its partnership track to include the Royals last month, solidifying partnerships with all four professional sports teams in Kansas City.
The university’s partnership with KC’s four professional sports and other brands like Boulevard Brewery Company raises questions about the impact and cost of these partnerships to students and staff.
“UMKC’s new partnerships are approximately $700K annually,” from an email chain with Stacy Downs, director of strategic communication at UMKC.
The university was approached by these companies and professional sports teams, having already built mutual connections. These partnerships have created many marketing opportunities that get the university’s name out in the city through materials like signage, billboards, social media, webdigital and activation events.
These partnership funds come from the Chancellor’s strategic investment funds, supported by sources including gifts, grants, royalties and other operating funds.
Other universities like Kean University, which partnered with the New York Jets, say their partnership also provided them with new marketing opportunities.
“Plus, these partnerships are a great pride point for our faculty, staff, students and alumni,” Downs said.
Each partnership says to bring and give new opportunities to students and the athletes affiliated with the professional sports teams.
However, some students are more concerned about everyday amenities rather than expanding community reach.
“[It’s] so cool we have all of these partnerships but would people even want to go to our school if they can’t even move around campus or if air-conditioning in a building doesn’t work because it’s old,” said Erica Anderson, sophomore environmental science major.
