DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Athletics and Playfly Sports Enter Multimedia Rights Partnership
7/8/2026 10:00:00 AM | ATHLETICS, EXTERNAL OUTREACH
Playfly will drive commercial revenue on behalf of the athletic department under the name of DePaul Sports Properties
CHICAGO, IL / NEW YORK, NY, July 8, 2026 – DePaul University Athletics and Playfly Sports, the sports industry's leading revenue maximization company, today announced a ten-year multimedia rights (MMR) partnership beginning today.
As DePaul's exclusive commercial partner, Playfly Sports will maximize sponsorship revenue across the school's fifteen intercollegiate athletics programs through website monetization, radio broadcast production for men's basketball, brand experiential activations and sponsorship sales of assets like in-stadium signage at Wintrust Arena, home of DePaul's men's and women's basketball teams. Playfly will also take to market the naming rights for DePaul's new practice facility in the heart of Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. The facility is slated to break ground this September and open in Fall 2027.
The partnership will also create new opportunities to build on DePaul's existing academic engagement with Paragon Marketing Group, which was acquired by Playfly Sports in 2025. DePaul Athletics, Playfly and Paragon will collaborate on interdisciplinary academic offerings, including a sports internship program and sports business symposium while continuing to create meaningful brand activations and networking opportunities for DePaul students.
"This partnership with Playfly Sports is about positioning DePaul Athletics for long-term growth. Playfly's data-driven approach and deep experience in college and professional sports gives us a real advantage as we work to maximize the value of our brand and deepen our connection with the community," said DeWayne Peevy, DePaul University Senior Vice President and Director of Athletics. "As an organization, Playfly has a deep relationship and connection to the City of Chicago and we are excited to work with them as a partner who is as invested in our success as we are."
"We're thrilled to be partnering with DeWayne and the DePaul team. We are already working together on innovations to drive sponsorship revenue in new and creative ways for the Athletics Department" said Christy Hedgpeth, President of Playfly Sports Properties. "DePaul's established alumni base and strong community ties within the Chicago market are invaluable in expanding its exposure and visibility as a brand, and we're looking forward to adding value for the university, student-athletes and fans alike."
DePaul joins 32 other schools in Playfly's college multimedia rights portfolio.
ABOUT DEPAUL ATHLETICS
DePaul's 15 intercollegiate athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division I, BIG EAST Conference. DePaul University began sponsoring athletics teams in the early 1900's, with intercollegiate athletics coming to fruition in the 1920's. Legendary coach Ray Meyer helped put DePaul on the map in the 1970's as the men's basketball program helped elevate the university to national prominence. Through a bold new vision for the future, DePaul Athletics looks to become the premier program in the BIG EAST Conference through a focus on winning championships with integrity, building champion students through education and intentional development, and serving as a visible ambassador for DePaul University and the Chicago community. DePaul Athletics has a storied tradition and is uniquely positioned to support the university's mission and commitment to academic excellence, real-world experience, community engagement, and systemic change. Further, the department is steadfast in its commitment to grow the university's national exposure and enrollment.
ABOUT PLAYFLY SPORTS
Playfly Sports, the sports industry's leading revenue maximization company, drives growth for its partners across the sports ecosystem – including 2,000+ brands, 100+ professional teams, 65+ college athletic departments, all U.S. local sports networks and associated streaming platforms, and other marquee properties. Its fan engagement platform allows its partners to reach and engage over 85% of all U.S sports fans. Playfly builds and implements custom strategies across media, sponsorship, premium experiences, ticketing and fan engagement offerings through proprietary data, innovative technology and compelling storytelling. Playfly operates an expansive portfolio of services with a data-driven and fan-focused approach to maximize revenue yield in key growth areas, such as media, sponsorship, ticketing, premium experiences and fan engagement offerings. Founded in September of 2020, Playfly Sports is now home to approximately 1,000 team members located across 43 U.S. states and internationally dedicated to maximizing the impact of highly passionate local sports fans. The company has been named a Best Place to Work in Sports by Sports Business Journal, Front Office Sports, and Newsweek. To learn more, follow Playfly Sports on social media platforms or visit www.Playfly.com
As DePaul's exclusive commercial partner, Playfly Sports will maximize sponsorship revenue across the school's fifteen intercollegiate athletics programs through website monetization, radio broadcast production for men's basketball, brand experiential activations and sponsorship sales of assets like in-stadium signage at Wintrust Arena, home of DePaul's men's and women's basketball teams. Playfly will also take to market the naming rights for DePaul's new practice facility in the heart of Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. The facility is slated to break ground this September and open in Fall 2027.
The partnership will also create new opportunities to build on DePaul's existing academic engagement with Paragon Marketing Group, which was acquired by Playfly Sports in 2025. DePaul Athletics, Playfly and Paragon will collaborate on interdisciplinary academic offerings, including a sports internship program and sports business symposium while continuing to create meaningful brand activations and networking opportunities for DePaul students.
"This partnership with Playfly Sports is about positioning DePaul Athletics for long-term growth. Playfly's data-driven approach and deep experience in college and professional sports gives us a real advantage as we work to maximize the value of our brand and deepen our connection with the community," said DeWayne Peevy, DePaul University Senior Vice President and Director of Athletics. "As an organization, Playfly has a deep relationship and connection to the City of Chicago and we are excited to work with them as a partner who is as invested in our success as we are."
"We're thrilled to be partnering with DeWayne and the DePaul team. We are already working together on innovations to drive sponsorship revenue in new and creative ways for the Athletics Department" said Christy Hedgpeth, President of Playfly Sports Properties. "DePaul's established alumni base and strong community ties within the Chicago market are invaluable in expanding its exposure and visibility as a brand, and we're looking forward to adding value for the university, student-athletes and fans alike."
DePaul joins 32 other schools in Playfly's college multimedia rights portfolio.
ABOUT DEPAUL ATHLETICS
DePaul's 15 intercollegiate athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division I, BIG EAST Conference. DePaul University began sponsoring athletics teams in the early 1900's, with intercollegiate athletics coming to fruition in the 1920's. Legendary coach Ray Meyer helped put DePaul on the map in the 1970's as the men's basketball program helped elevate the university to national prominence. Through a bold new vision for the future, DePaul Athletics looks to become the premier program in the BIG EAST Conference through a focus on winning championships with integrity, building champion students through education and intentional development, and serving as a visible ambassador for DePaul University and the Chicago community. DePaul Athletics has a storied tradition and is uniquely positioned to support the university's mission and commitment to academic excellence, real-world experience, community engagement, and systemic change. Further, the department is steadfast in its commitment to grow the university's national exposure and enrollment.
ABOUT PLAYFLY SPORTS
Playfly Sports, the sports industry's leading revenue maximization company, drives growth for its partners across the sports ecosystem – including 2,000+ brands, 100+ professional teams, 65+ college athletic departments, all U.S. local sports networks and associated streaming platforms, and other marquee properties. Its fan engagement platform allows its partners to reach and engage over 85% of all U.S sports fans. Playfly builds and implements custom strategies across media, sponsorship, premium experiences, ticketing and fan engagement offerings through proprietary data, innovative technology and compelling storytelling. Playfly operates an expansive portfolio of services with a data-driven and fan-focused approach to maximize revenue yield in key growth areas, such as media, sponsorship, ticketing, premium experiences and fan engagement offerings. Founded in September of 2020, Playfly Sports is now home to approximately 1,000 team members located across 43 U.S. states and internationally dedicated to maximizing the impact of highly passionate local sports fans. The company has been named a Best Place to Work in Sports by Sports Business Journal, Front Office Sports, and Newsweek. To learn more, follow Playfly Sports on social media platforms or visit www.Playfly.com
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