Category: News

The ALUM Brand will feature Luxury Residences and Member’s Clubs Designed to Elevate the College Town Experience

New real estate brand to deliver high-end hospitality, in partnership with premium experiences company Legends, to college towns with a strong sports culture

LAUNCHING TODAY — ALUM is an elevated stomping ground for discerning alumni. A reimagined home base away from home, the luxury residences and exclusive member’s club is a celebration of school spirit, built as a refined evolution of college town accommodation. With thoughtfully designed hospitality, private residences, and fan-focused programming, ALUM strengthens community ties to renowned institutions with legendary fan and alumni culture

A real estate brand focused on college town markets, ALUM redefines home game stays, offering owners world-class residences, award-winning food and beverage, a private club for socializing, and the option to have their properties expertly managed, maintained, and rented nightly when not in use. ALUM has partnered with global premium experiences company Legends, which has extensive experience in collegiate athletics and provides hospitality at some of the most well-known venues in the world. The partnership with Legends allows ALUM to tap into Legends’ strong relationships with university and athletic leadership and their industry-leading experience in assisting colleges and universities with identifying incremental revenue opportunities.

David Vialli, Co-Founder of ALUM, says,

“College towns are special places that hold immeasurable value in our hearts, and countless people travel to these cities every year for sports games and other events. ALUM was founded to celebrate these unique destinations and foster a deeper sense of camaraderie within them. We’re hopeful that ALUM will become a beloved institution embraced and enjoyed by the community, whether they’re alumni, faculty, students, family members, or visitors.”

Catered to alumni and parents of students and athletes who frequently visit, ALUM meets the increasing demand for luxury accommodation and enriched lifestyles often missing from college town experiences. Each ALUM will offer apartments with flexible layouts, site-specific architecture, and elevated design, combining state-of-the-art amenities and five-star service with the comforts of a private residence.

Additionally, ALUM will launch a short-term rental program, allowing owners to rent their condominiums when they are not occupied. From seamless online booking and check-in to housekeeping and maintenance, ALUM will oversee the entire process, ensuring owners peace of mind while earning additional income.

Legends will operate a year-round private member’s club and restaurant at each ALUM location and develop and execute a fundraising strategy to activate the local community. Legends will also provide market feasibility studies to identify new markets and support ALUM’s strategic expansion.

Mike Behan, President, Legends College, says,

“There is a white space in college markets for contemporary and flexible living solutions. ALUM answers to a growing segment of sophisticated consumers who want the best in hospitality, no matter where they are. We are excited to partner with ALUM to deliver an exceptional private membership and dining experience at each location that brings people together around their shared passion for the local university. This partnership is a natural extension of Legends’ focus for the past decade-plus on introducing new premium experiences across college campuses.”

ALUM will break ground this summer with its inaugural building in Tuscaloosa, Alabama home to The University of Alabama’s legendary sports teams. Expected to open in early 2026, the project will include luxury private residences, a private member’s club, award-winning food and drink, a coffee shop, meeting spaces, a pool, and event space. ALUM has plans to launch in additional markets, including:

Eugene, Oregon
College Station, Texas
Columbia, South Carolina
Knoxville, Tennessee
Columbus, Ohio
Athens, Georgia
Auburn, Alabama
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Norman, Oklahoma

In addition to these cities, Legends will support the exploration of future markets for ALUM throughout the United States. For more news on ALUM, including updates on sales launches and the development pipeline, please visit ALUMclubs.com.

Legends Operated Eight Retail Locations in Detroit Including a 5,115 Sq. Ft. Shop 

The NFL Shop presented by Visa at the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit proved to be the ultimate destination for fans during the week of the Draft. Legends, the official on-site retail merchandise concessionaire for the 2024 NFL Draft, announced a dramatic increase in merchandise sales for the Draft with a 45% overall revenue bump from 2023 in Kansas City. 

New in 2024, Legends rented a 5,115 square foot pop-up storefront in the heart of the Draft activities (Woodward Avenue, Detroit MI) to serve as the main NFL Shop presented by Visa. The store, which accounted for half of the merchandise sales for the week, was open for a full week – Friday, April 19 through Saturday, April 27 – to give fans lots of time to pick up their favorite team gear.  

In addition to the main NFL Shop, there were seven more NFL Shop pop-up shops – six within the NFL Draft Experience footprint and one location at the Draft. The Shops offered the largest collection of NFL Draft merchandise available anywhere, featuring products from 23 different licensees, including apparel, headwear, mini helmets, and pennants from all 32 NFL teams as well as exclusive Draft x Detroit Lions product. 

Merchandise centered around the hometown and home team were the biggest sellers, including Detroit and state of Michigan-themed t-shirts, hats, and novelties, as well as the Detroit Lions new look jersey (launched the week before the Draft) and hats. A Legends-designed and produced t-shirt featuring all 32 NFL teams’ unique NFL Draft logos was another hot item, as well as the Lions Draft logo tee and novelties. Special collection products included exclusive 47 Brand Draft Hats, Hugo Boss Draft and team branded merchandise, limited edition G-III Detroit Lions Varsity Jacket, and Rock ‘Em Socks Detroit-themed 3-pk of socks. 

The NFL Shop presented by Visa at the NFL Draft is managed by Legends, the NFL’s official on-site retail merchandise concessionaire for the 2024 NFL Draft. Legends also manage on-site retail at NFL tent pole events, including the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl Games, NFL Draft, and NFL Combine.

New York City FC today announced it has selected global premium experiences company Legends to manage all sales efforts for suites and premium seating for its new stadium being constructed at Willets Point in Queens, New York.

From now through the stadium’s opening in 2027, Legends will provide the Club with strategic consulting and go-to-market analysis, product design and development consultation, strategy and execution for premium and suite sales, initial valuation work, and valuable marketplace insights. Additionally, Legends will hire and build a dedicated team for New York City FC based in New York to focus on all sales and service execution.

“Our goal is to build and create the best stadium and fan experience in all of Major League Soccer, and we’re confident that Legends’ unmatched expertise in this space will help us accomplish this objective,” said Brad Sims, New York City FC CEO. “We’re excited to bring them on board as we work to build New York City’s first-ever soccer-specific stadium.”

“Our team is excited for this incredible opportunity to combine our deep knowledge in the New York market and experience in global football to bring New York City FC’s vision to life in their new stadium,” said Mike Ondrejko, President, Legends Global Sales. “It is a privilege to work alongside Brad and his team at New York City FC to imagine the possibilities in the first-ever soccer-specific stadium in New York City and serve their supporters by delivering a best-in-class experience.”

Earlier this month, the New York City Council voted overwhelmingly to approve the next phase of the Willets Point Redevelopment project, including New York City FC’s stadium. The new stadium will be 100% privately financed, seat approximately 25,000 people, and be the first fully electric sports stadium in New York City and all Major League Soccer.

New York City FC’s stadium will also be part of a new, 23-acre neighborhood at Willets Point, Queens developed by Queens Development Group — a joint venture of Related Companies and Sterling Equities. The neighborhood will be anchored by 2,500 new 100% affordable housing units, a new 650-seat public school, a brand-new hotel, and more than 150,000 square feet of public open space.

The Willets Point redevelopment project is estimated to generate $6.1 billion in economic activity, create 1,550 permanent jobs, and 14,200 construction jobs. To learn more about the project, visit newyorkcityfc.com/stadium.

The United Football League (UFL) today announced that Legends, a global premium experiences company and leading provider of innovative merchandise solutions, will serve as the Official Event and eCommerce Partner of the UFL.

Under this partnership, Legends’ Global Merchandise division will oversee event merchandise sales, including in-stadium shopping experiences for fans attending UFL events and eCommerce operations, including the League’s online retail platform, shop.theufl.com.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Legends as our exclusive event and eCommerce partner,” said Ryan Segers, Vice President of Consumer Products at the UFL. “Their proven track record of delivering high-quality merchandise and creating engaging fan experiences aligns perfectly with our vision for the UFL. Together, we aim to elevate the fan experience both online and in-person, setting a new standard for excellence in sports merchandise.”

Legends brings extensive experience in the sports and entertainment industry, specializing in creating unique merchandise programs that resonate with fans across the globe. Their expertise in eCommerce and event merchandise operations will be vital in enhancing the UFL fan experience and driving revenue growth for both parties.

The partnership between Legends and UFL will also see the company design and produce merchandise for the League.

“We are excited to partner with UFL to offer fans of all ages comprehensive merchandise offerings to sport their fandom and celebrate their favorite teams,” said Kirta Carroll, President, Legends Global Merchandise. “In addition to handling the league’s omnichannel merchandise, we are looking forward to partnering with the UFL to design and produce exclusive products for fans as a licensee partner.”

Click here for the 2024 schedule and broadcast details.

The Athletics and Legends today announced a partnership in which the global premium experiences company will manage premium seating and ticket sales for the Club’s new ballpark in Las Vegas. 

“We are excited to embark on this long-term partnership that will lead to the opening of our transformational ballpark in Las Vegas,” said A’s president Dave Kaval. “Legends’ extensive industry experience and intricate knowledge of the local market will help us create products that meet the needs of our fans while building a successful ballpark experience.”

Legends will deliver strategic consulting and go-to-market analysis, product design and development consultation, strategy and execution for premium and suite sales, initial valuation work, staffing, and valuable marketplace insights. Additionally, Legends will build a dedicated team for the A’s based in Las Vegas to focus on sales execution. 

“We are honored for the opportunity to partner with the A’s and help bring their bold vision of delivering a first-class hospitality experience to their fans and the Las Vegas community,” said Mike Ondrejko, President of Legends Global Sales. “From the moment we started working with Dave and his team on our initial feasibility study, there has been alignment in our data-driven approach in optimizing design and marketing strategy. We are excited to build on this collaboration by applying our global experience and expertise to serve the A’s on the sales execution of their new stadium.”  

The A’s initially engaged Legends in 2021 through its research arm, CSL, to conduct a comprehensive study on the opportunity for the Club to establish a new permanent home in Las Vegas. Legends’ Global Sales team has extensive experience partnering on the most ambitious sports projects, including the opening of Allegiant Stadium, SoFi Stadium, and Notre Dame Stadium, to deliver record-breaking results. Legends is also currently partnered with FC Barcelona, San Diego FC, and the Buffalo Bills in developing the financial model, stadium design, data capture and analysis, and strategic planning to support the sales execution efforts of their respective stadium development projects.

Blueprint Sports and Legends bring an enhanced professional solution for NIL collectives at Power Five universities nationwide.

Legends, a global premium experiences company, and Blueprint Sports (BPSE), the industry leader in full-service name, image, and likeness (NIL) collectives, have formed a strategic partnership that will provide NIL collectives and Power Five universities with an unmatched NIL infrastructure, bolstering professional operational capacities, service offerings, and NIL industry expertise. The result will be the industry-leading NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) solution, setting the standard for NIL and student-athlete sports marketing.

Legends College and Blueprint Sports will collaborate to support student-athletes and the rapidly evolving college athletics NIL landscape. Together, they will amplify and build sustainable revenue opportunities for NIL collectives under the BPSE umbrella, focusing on philanthropic fundraising, student-athlete sponsorships, memberships, exclusive events, and merchandise fulfillment.

“The college athletics landscape has undergone rapid transformation,” stated Mike Behan, President of Legends College. “Through our close collaboration with partners during this dynamic period, Legends is acutely aware of the significant opportunities stemming from NIL, as well as the challenge in establishing sustainable revenue models for NIL collectives. Our partnership with Blueprint Sports is positioned to address this challenge, offering an unparalleled solution for universities and NIL collectives to generate long-term revenue in support of student-athletes.”

“Balancing the traditional institutional legacy of college athletics with the new era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) can be a delicate task,” said Rob Sine, CEO of Blueprint Sports. “Our collaboration with Legends enables our teams to combine their extensive knowledge, proven track records, and resources to provide the most comprehensive and forward-facing solution to an industry undergoing tremendous change. Our goal is to continue guiding the college sports industry, athletic departments, conferences, and collectives in the right direction while maximizing the impact of NIL on student-athletes and their programs.”

Both companies have partnerships involving the University of Kansas, the University of Maryland, the University of Utah, and Villanova University. BPSE powers collectives that support student-athletes at each university, and Legends College’s partnerships with each span multiple services across the company’s holistic solution. These universities will be the first to benefit from Legends and BPSE’s new strategic partnership. Across its portfolio, BPSE powers collectives at more than 25 universities nationwide, including twelve Power-Five universities, presenting an incredible opportunity for both companies to grow and expand within the industry together.   

Legends’ college business has grown exponentially over the past 10-plus years and includes partnerships with leading universities, collegiate organizations, and events. Born out of the impact Legends continues to have across the collegiate landscape, Legends College was launched in November 2023 and provides a 360-degree service solution including research, project development, premium ticket sales, sponsorships, food and beverage, merchandise, business intelligence, marketing and philanthropic fundraising and engagement. The partnership with BPSE expands and enhances Legends’ NIL proficiency across its services.   

Borussia Dortmund (BVB) and Legends, a global premium experiences company, announced today a new, long-term partnership focused on building an innovative eCommerce platform offering an enhanced, best-in-class global shopping experience for BVB fans.

“Partnering with Legends represents a significant milestone in our journey to offer the best possible eCommerce experience to our Borussia Dortmund fans worldwide. Legends’ international expertise in eCommerce and Marketing coupled with the possibility of using an international fulfillment center to reduce shipping lead times and costs for fans worldwide were key factors in our decision to work with them,” said BVB Managing Director Carsten Cramer.

Legends’ global merchandise division will work closely with the BVB Merchandising, IT, and eCommerce teams to develop a more integrated, seamless international eCommerce experience with new and more comprehensive merchandise offerings for fans around the world to find their official Borussia Dortmund products. The team at Legends will also support BVB’s marketing focusing on sustainable growth in all international markets for the online shop.  

“BVB is an iconic brand with one of the most passionate fan bases in football. Legends is proud to become part of the incredible black and yellow family to help deliver the ultimate online shopping experience for BVB fans globally,” said Nick von Doetinchem, Managing Director of Central Europe, Legends

Legends’ fully integrated retail and merchandising vertical solution works with world-class clients around the globe across eCommerce, in-venue retail, large-scale live events, brick-and-mortar store operations, licensing, and customer merchandise. This includes vast experience developing and operating omnichannel retail experiences for some of the world’s largest sporting events and organizations, including 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics, 2023 Rugby World Cup, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and FIFA Online Store, 2023 Ryder Cup, Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, and Real Madrid.

German Press Release

Today, the Big 12 Conference announced the launch of the Basketball All-Access Pass, a new membership program for fans at the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship. This membership – which includes a Premium and Priority option – will provide fans the opportunity to purchase the same seat location for the Basketball Championship each year through 2031. The All-Access Pass will only apply to 12% of venue seating, with the remainder being unchanged.

The program will debut for the 2025 Basketball Championship, the Conference’s first-ever 16-team tournament that will see Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah make their Championship debut. The All-Access Pass program is being executed in partnership with global premium experiences company Legends.

“We are thrilled to be the home of the best basketball in college athletics. As the Big 12 continues to grow, we are committed to elevating fan experience and access,” said Commissioner Yormark. “The Basketball All-Access Pass program provides our fans with a unique opportunity to purchase preferred seats for years to come, as well as exclusive benefits and second-to-none access throughout our Basketball Championships.”

In 2023, Legends began conducting a fan survey of 12,000 Big 12 basketball fans, collecting feedback on a variety of elements surrounding the Big 12 Basketball Championship, including ticketing, seating, and fan experience. A key takeaway was fans’ desire for more premium seating opportunities, serving as a driving factor in the creation of the All-Access Pass.

Membership will be offered in two tiers – Premium Membership and Priority Membership. Premium Membership will provide access to a floor seat or premium lower level seats each year for all sessions, as well as access to premium clubs. The Priority Membership will provide fans access to premium lower level seats for only the sessions their team is participating in, as well as loaded tickets for concessions.

For further information, please visit big12sports.com/feature/all-access-pass.

Legends, a global premium experiences company, today announced record-breaking merchandise sales for Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, Nevada. Overall merchandise sales surpassed the previous record at Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco and were an 18% increase over Super Bowl LVII in Arizona. This includes merchandise revenue at Allegiant Stadium, Super Bowl Experience, hotels and pop-up locations throughout Las Vegas, and the NFL Las Vegas presented by Visa Store at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. Legends was the NFL’s official retail merchandise concessionaire for Super Bowl LVIII.

NFL Shop presented by Visa at the Super Bowl Experience presented by Toyota, which was open Wednesday through Saturday this year, outperformed last year by 24% when compared to equivalent days. Super Bowl retail pop-up, hotel locations, and the NFL Las Vegas Store saw a 135% increase in merchandise sales over 2023 in Phoenix.

For the first time this Super Bowl, the NFL Shop at the Super Bowl Experience featured a first-of-its-kind self-checkout solution for fans. Half of the registers at the Shop were self-checkout, 20 out of 40, and fans chose self-checkout 46% of the time. The average transaction time was a speedy 49 seconds.

The merchandise per cap for Super Bowl LVIII game day sales at Allegiant Stadium saw a 2% increase over last year in Phoenix. There were 13 merchandise locations inside Allegiant Stadium and nine portable retail locations outside the stadium.

“Fans showed up ready to shop in Las Vegas, and our team was ready at locations around the city with an expanded assortment of merchandise offerings from more than 50 partners, including more lifestyle and women’s apparel, the exciting capsule collection co-designed by Usher and the NFL, and unique designs celebrating Las Vegas,” said Kirta Carroll, President, Legends Global Merchandise. “We also helped fans shop faster with self-checkout for the first time at the NFL Shop at Super Bowl Experience. Our team is incredibly proud to partner with the NFL to deliver a first-class experience for fans at Super Bowl looking to rep their favorite team or take home a memory from the big game.”

Legends had more than 500 employees in Las Vegas, leveraging resources from across the country, working to provide a first-class experience for fans across all Super Bowl merchandise operations. The NFL Shop at the Super Bowl Experience was open for four days from Wednesday, February 7 through Saturday, February 10 and covered 30,000 square feet. The store offered the largest collection of Super Bowl merchandise anywhere, with 500 styles available for fans of all ages, including offerings from more than 50 different licensees. In addition to the main NFL Shop, there was a pop-up location at Verizon Activation at the Jimmy Kimmel Comedy Club on the Linq Promenade and 17 hotels carrying merchandise, all operated by Legends. 

Legends manages on-site retail at NFL tentpole events, including the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl Games, NFL Draft and NFL Combine. In addition, Legends operates the NFL Las Vegas presented by Visa, an innovative NFL-themed store located in the renowned Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Accomplished Industry Innovator Funk to Join Legends in New Role on February 1

Longtime Legends Hospitality Leader Dan Smith to Transition to Senior Advisor

Legends announced today the appointment of accomplished industry innovator Tom Funk as President, Hospitality for the global premium experiences company. Funk will commence his new role on February 1, 2024, overseeing the company’s hospitality businesses. Funk has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry building and leading high-performing teams focused on innovation and growth.

Legends’ longtime President of Hospitality, Dan Smith, will move into a new role as a Senior Advisor for the business. Smith was the first employee at Legends and has stewarded the hospitality business over the past 15 years working with some of the most iconic sports, entertainment, and attractions brands worldwide. 

“The incredible growth and success of Legends’ hospitality business is attributed to Dan’s leadership and guidance since day one. We are grateful for his immeasurable contributions over the past 15 years,” said Shervin Mirhashemi, CEO, Legends. “As we continue to focus on growing the business and delivering first-class hospitality experiences for our partners, we are fortunate to have Tom take the reins and lead this next phase. Tom’s stellar reputation as an innovator and operator and his experience growing global platforms ensures he is the right leader for the future.”

“I am thrilled and humbled to be joining the incredibly talented team at Legends. I have been very fortunate in my career to work with many of the best in the hospitality and sports & entertainment industry, Dan Smith and the entire Legends organization sit firmly in that group. They have built an amazing business poised for growth,” said Funk. “Food & beverage and merchandise play a critical role in delivering an exceptional fan and guest experience, and we have a significant responsibility to represent our partners’ brands in the best way possible. I’m excited to continue to evolve and grow our capabilities to ensure we do this, while also providing innovative concepts and solutions that will deliver great outcomes for our partners.”

“For 15 years I have loved coming to work every day at Legends to stand alongside the most talented people in the business and have the pleasure of seeing them develop and deliver innovative and exciting culinary and merchandise experiences for our partners,” said Smith. “I am excited for Tom to inherit this incredible team and our roster of world-class partners and lead them to new heights. I look forward to wearing a new hat and supporting Legends’ continued growth.” 

Legends’ food & beverage business works with world-class clients around the globe and includes venue concessions, premium clubs and suites, and catering; restaurants, private membership clubs, and food hall operations; and private events catering. The company’s fully integrated retail and merchandising vertical solution spans e-commerce, in-venue retail, large-scale live events, brick-and-mortar store operations, licensing, and customer merchandise.

Funk brings extensive experience in the hospitality industry to his new role at Legends, having operated within every venue type and held leadership roles with Levy, Aramark, and Delaware North. He joins Legends from Compass Group, where since 2021 he has been Executive Vice President, Compass One Healthcare, Compass Group’s largest sector. Previously he spent nearly a decade at Levy, including six years serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the global hospitality business. Before his time at Levy, he rose through the ranks at Aramark culminating in serving as General Manager for Citi Field. Funk started his career in hospitality at Delaware North.

The 10^th anniversary of the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship achieved historic highs for merchandise sales on-site and online. Sales surpassed the previous high achieved in the first year of the national championship game by 28% overall. Legends has managed omnichannel merchandise for College Football Playoff since the 2021-22 season. 

Compared to the 2023 CFP National Championship weekend in Los Angeles, merchandise sales in Houston increased across the board, including stadium game day sales on-site up 6%, Playoff Fan Central sales up 62%, and hotel sales up 36%. 

eCommerce sales saw a 70% jump over the previous high driven by a new shop-in-shop promotion helping fans on-site avoid lines by offering the same products on https://shop.collegefootballplayoff.com/. As Michigan clinched its first national championship in the College Football Playoff era, the website spiked and initial quantities of the Michigan 2024 National Champions hat and hoodie sold out within three minutes, and most other national championship products went in under 10 minutes. 

Fans were excited by an expanded product offering this year, including a wider selection of school-specific products and new clothing, headwear, accessories, and novelty items, including premium products from nationally-known apparel brands, athleisure wear, big oversized hats, and College Football Playoff mascot merchandise featuring Perry the Pylon. Collectibles were also popular this year with Michigan and Washington both vying for their first College Football Playoff National Championship. 

A portion of the proceeds from the CFP Shop benefit the College Football Playoff Foundation in support of PK-12 teachers nationwide. The CFP Foundation’s primary cause platform, Extra Yard for Teachers, is dedicated to elevating the teaching profession by inspiring and empowering teachers in four focus areas: resources, recognition, recruitment and retention, and professional development, all in order to prepare our nation’s students for success. 

Legends’ fully integrated retail and merchandising vertical solution works with world-class clients around the globe across e-commerce, in-venue retail, large-scale live events, brick-and-mortar store operations, licensing, and customer merchandise.