UCF to don Disney logo on helmets as teams continue to add partnerships

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From Ohio State to Notre Dame to Indiana, sponsorship patches on college football uniforms have become commonplace in the evolving landscape of college athletics, as athletic departments seek new sources of revenue.

Central Florida has recently taken that trend a step further with a helmet sponsorship. The Knights debuted a Walt Disney World logo on the back of their helmets in Week 4 as part of a partnership agreement with the Orlando-based theme park.

The deal marks another example of schools expanding corporate branding opportunities on uniforms, with UCF becoming one of the latest Power Four programs to incorporate sponsored helmet patches into its game day look.

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In Week 5, as the Knights travel to Houston for their first Big 12 road game of the season, UCF's helmet sponsorship is expected to be included with their special Mission X Space Uniform for the matchup.

Here's what to know:

Why is the Walt Disney World logo on UCF football helmets?

It's part of a sponsorship agreement between both parties.

UCF announced the sponsorship between itself and Walt Disney World on Sept. 25, where the Walt Disney World logo would be put on the back of the Knights' helmets for the remainder of the season, starting with last week's win over TCU.

"Walt Disney World is part of the fabric of Central Florida, and we are incredibly proud to feature its logo on our football helmets," UCF athletic director Terry Mohajir said in a statement. "This relationship brings together two organizations with deep roots in our community, tremendous national reach and a shared belief in creating memorable experiences.

"We appreciate Walt Disney World’s investment in UCF Athletics and we are excited to showcase this relationship during our Big 12 opener at the Bounce House."

The sponsorship between UCF and Walt Disney World is not an out-of-the-blue one. Located just 30 minutes from Walt Disney World in the Orlando area, UCF and Walt Disney World have had a longstanding relationship in which UCF students (and alumni) have participated in Walt Disney World’s student outreach programs — such as the Disney College Program — or have gone on to work at "The Happiest Place on Earth."

"UCF is an important part of our community, and we are proud to expand on our longstanding relationship in a way that celebrates the spirit of Central Florida," Walt Disney World vice president of marketing strategy Sivonne Davis said in a statement. "We are excited to see the Walt Disney World logo on the Knights’ helmets as they compete for the Big 12 Conference championship and beyond."

Is Walt Disney World sponsoring any other UCF athletic teams?

It was not mentioned in UCF's news release whether Walt Disney World will sponsor any of the university's other sports.

The Big 12, however, announced in July that football, men's basketball and women's basketball in the conference would be branded as Monster Energy Big 12 Football and Monster Energy Big 12 Basketball as part of a multi-year, $20 million sponsorship agreement with Monster Energy.

As part of the deal, Monster Energy and Big 12 logos will appear on team jerseys, while the branding will also be featured on football fields and basketball courts throughout the conference.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UCF to don Disney logo on helmets as teams continue to add partnerships

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