Tag: name

April 10, 2024; Chicago, IL, USA; Christian Kline of FedEx participates in a safety wiring demonstration as part of the aerospace maintenance competition at the Aviation Week Network's MRO Americas at McCormick Place. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY NETWORK

FedEx, Memphis enter $25M NIL partnership

Posted on | by Field Level Media

FedEx is entering into a five-year, $25 million name, image and likeness commitment that will benefit student-athletes at Memphis, particularly in the Tigers’ football and men’s and women’s basketball programs, as well as additional women’s sports.

The shipping giant, which launched its operations in Memphis in 1973, has annual revenues of $88 billion.

As part of the initiative, Memphis athletes receiving NIL funding will participate in FedEx initiatives via social media and in person around the city. The company supports events that include the FedEx/St. Jude Championships, the Southern Heritage Classic and the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, all in Memphis.

“We evaluated the evolving NIL landscape, exploring how we can best deliver positive impact to student-athletes and connect them to meaningful opportunities for both themselves and the community and made the decision to reallocate marketing funds to an NIL platform,” said Brian Philips, the executive vice president and chief marketing officer at FedEx, in a news release. “This gives us an opportunity to invest in bright, young athletes in our great hometown of Memphis, strengthening our connection to the next generation of leaders.”

The program was announced Friday via a social media video that featured both FedEx employees and Memphis athletes.

The first FedEx in-person NIL initiative will be a tailgate event at Memphis’ spring football game, featuring the women’s soccer team.

Athletic director Laird Veatch told 929 ESPN radio in Memphis on Friday that the contribution includes a clause stipulating a 50 percent match and that the university will launch a campaign to raise $2.5 million per year.

Veatch acknowledged the boost the FedEx partnership will give to his department.

“It does elevate us to a highly competitive NIL space, and it’s something that’s sustainable at the same time,” Veatch said. “If you ask many athletic directors around the country, I don’t know that they’d be in a position to say that.”

This is not the first partnership between the company and school. The campus has a degree program for FedEx employees and also boasts the FedEx Institute of Technology. Company CEO Fred Smith agreed to donate $50 million from his personal foundation for renovations for the Tigers’ football stadium.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2020; Washington, DC, United States; Washington Football Team players helmets rest on the field during a practice at Fedex Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Snyder open to keeping Washington Football Team name

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Maybe the moniker Washington Football Team is growing on Dan Snyder.

In an email to The Wall Street Journal for an article published Sunday, team owner Snyder said the temporary name just might stick.

“If the Washington Football Team name catches on and our fans embrace it then we would be happy to have it as our permanent name,” he wrote. “I think we have developed a very classy retro look and feel.”

The organized adopted the temporary name in late July after dropping the Redskins nickname amid mounting pressure from sponsors and activists. The team had used the previous name since 1933, but for years, those individuals and groups that considered Redskins to be a slur had pushed Snyder to change it.

He finally relented this summer, and the franchise installed Washington Football Team as an interim name to get through the season because of the lack of time to thoroughly research and test a permanent one. The logo is a simple but stylish “W,” and the team kept its classic burgundy and gold colors. Players have their numbers instead of a logo on their helmets.

“Over the past few years the name had increasingly become a distraction from our primary focus of football,” he wrote. “So, in the spirit of inclusivity, we made the decision to move forward. We want our future name and brand to stand for something that unifies people of all backgrounds and to continue to be a source of pride for the next 100 years or more.”

The name is just one issue facing the Washington Football Team. The NFL is leading an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against the franchise.

–Field Level Media