University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Partners with Dyehard to Create New Merchandising Program
8/29/2019 11:28:00 AM | General
STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut and Dyehard Fan Supply have entered into a multi-year agreement beginning in the fall of 2019 to merchandise Husky athletic products. Dyehard, a retail solutions provider specializing in events, retail and e-commerce, will become the official in-venue merchandising partner for UConn Athletics at home athletic events and more.
"We are very excited to partner with Dyehard to take our in-game merchandise experience to a new level," said Director of Athletics David Benedict. "The team at Dyehard have pulled together an impressive roster of partners and we are proud to become a part of that successful group. We look forward to our fans seeing a first class merchandise presentation starting this week at football and know that they will be as happy as we are with our newest partner."
Dyehard will be instrumental in supplying popular merchandise collections for home sporting events for football, men's and women's basketball, hockey and more. In addition to carrying a full line of Nike apparel and headwear, along with every-day fan gear, Dyehard Fan Supply also will feature products from high-profile brands such as Zephyr, Colosseum, Columbia and Wincraft. Dyehard's commitment to Husky fans will include an upgraded fan experience with their retail kiosks, a focus on customer service and the debut of new brands and category enhancements each season.
"The Dyehard Fan Supply team is thrilled to become part of the UConn tradition and their eventual transition back into the BIG EAST Conference as the official gameday merchandising partner for UConn Athletics," said Dyehard CEO Rex Hough. "Similar to what we've done at other university programs, we will be very attentive to seeking out and providing the merchandise that Husky fans want. We will provide a broad range of merchandise choices using a variety of trusted licensees to ensure we meet the demands of fans."
"In addition, we will upgrade UConn Athletics' point-of-sale buying experience and enhance the overall fan and customer service interaction by training staff to become 5-star brand ambassadors. We believe Husky fans will be extremely pleased with the Dyehard merchandising experience, and we can't wait to get started this fall!"
The agreement with UConn Athletics marks another major collegiate division partnership for Dyehard launching this fall, which also serves as official athletics merchandising partner for the University of Arkansas, Auburn University, the University of North Carolina, Michigan State University, Mississippi State University, Columbia University, the BIG EAST Conference, Rutgers University and the University of Pittsburgh.
Teall Capital Partners, a private equity company based in Winston-Salem, N.C. and Atlanta, Ga. created Dyehard Fan Supply in late 2017 after acquiring several companies offering an expansive national network of best-in-class merchandise capabilities. Teall anticipates additional future investments that will contribute to the top-quality retail experience for fans and customers.
"UConn fans will receive a best-in-class merchandising experience from Dyehard, a company that offers the highest standards of customer service in the industry," said Ben C. Sutton, Jr., chairman and managing partner of Teall Capital Partners and former IMG College chairman and CEO. "Since we created the company in late 2017 using a best-in-the-business team, Dyehard has written a completely new merchandising playbook for athletics programs for a growing number of major programs."
"I'm confident that Dyehard will continue its successful track record of providing fast-paced, customer-focused service to UConn" Sutton added. "We will continue to experience great things from Dyehard Fan Supply as it expands its footprint from UConn to include other great athletics programs across America."
Dyehard Fan Supply has handled merchandising programs for many of America's most notable sporting events and organizations, including the Olympic Games, NBA finals, World Series, Davis Cup tennis, MLB All-Star Games, America's Cup, the U.S. Open, the USTA Jr. Team Tennis & League National Championships, the TCS New York City Marathon, and numerous professional and college football championships and bowls.
About Teall Capital Partners
Teall Capital Partners is a privately-held set of investments in innovative, high-growth-potential lifestyle brands and services. Teall invests in complementary organizations that collaborate to share thought leadership and leverage individual networks to realize greater value.
Led by Founder and Chairman Ben C. Sutton, Jr., the Teall Capital management team includes several of the top executives that built and expanded four national market-leading businesses into a nearly billion-dollar enterprise in the college sports space: IMG College Media, IMG Seating, IMG College Licensing, and IMG Ticketing. Teall Capital leadership provides operating companies with access to expertise in corporate strategy, organizational management, culture and training, financial strategy, employee operations, recruiting, and legal diligence. Visit TeallCapital.com for more information.
About Dyehard Fan Supply
Dyehard Fan Supply is a turnkey sports retail solutions provider for some of America's top sporting events, venues and brands. With a focus on your brand, Dyehard leverages best-in-class practices to deliver a superior omni-channel buying experience to your fans online, at-event, and inside your brick and mortar stores. Whether you're a fan of college or pro sports, teams or individual events, Broadway shows or music, Dyehard Fan Supply is on the forefront of customer-focused concepts and innovative solutions designed to grow your retail business. Our retail experts are committed to the highest standards of customer service and reliability in the industry. Visit dyehardfansupply.com for more information
