Future Standard and Villanova Athletics Announce Premier Multiyear Partnership

Global alternative asset manager to become exclusive jersey patch partner across all 24 varsity sports, with collaboration extending beyond athletics to support Villanova students NEW YORK / PHILADELPHIA / VILLANOVA, PA (October 29, 2026) – Villanova Athletics today announced a landmark multiyear partnership with Future Standard, a global alternative asset manager with Philadelphia roots, that will feature the company's brand on the jerseys of all 24 Villanova varsity sports programs. The agreement represents a significant commitment to the University and reflects a shared ambition to create meaningful opportunities for students and student-athletes. Beyond the jersey patch, Future Standard intends to collaborate with the Villanova School of Business on educational programming, classroom engagement, and other initiatives designed to connect students with leaders and perspectives from the financial services industry. The partnership also includes plans for financial literacy programming for Villanova student-athletes. The Future Standard jersey patch will make its debut on November 1, when the Villanova men's and women's basketball teams face the University of Notre Dame at the Eternal City Tip-Off in Rome, Italy, providing a global stage for the introduction of the partnership. Community impact will also be a central element of the partnership. Future Standard and Villanova will work together on an annual initiative aligned with shared priorities across the Philadelphia region, reflecting both organizations’ commitment to creating value beyond campus and competition. “At Villanova, we are committed to pursuing excellence and providing an exceptional student-athlete experience,” said Eric Roedl, Vice President and Director of Athletics . “We are thrilled to partner with Future Standard, an organization that shares our values and our belief in creating opportunities for student-athletes to succeed in the classroom, in competition, in the community and beyond. This partnership strengthens our ability to deliver on that commitment, and we look forward to building a lasting relationship that benefits our student-athletes and the broader Villanova community.” “The most effective partnerships build on the strengths of both organizations and create opportunities to generate even greater impact together,” said Edwin Conway, Chief Executive Officer of Future Standard . “Villanova's combination of academic excellence, national reach, and a highly engaged alumni community makes it a uniquely valuable partner. Together, we will create new opportunities to bring together clients, advisors, business leaders, and future talent through experiences, conversations, and shared learning. The jersey patch may be the most visible expression of the partnership, but the greatest value will come from the relationships, connections, and opportunities our organizations can create together.” “College athletics partnerships are evolving, and this agreement demonstrates what's possible when organizations share a vision that extends beyond traditional sponsorship,” said Christy Hedgpeth, President, Playfly Sports Properties . “Future Standard brings Philadelphia roots, a global perspective, and a genuine interest in contributing to the Villanova community. We're proud to help bring these two organizations together in a partnership that will create value well beyond the playing field.” The partnership was facilitated by Playfly Sports, the exclusive multimedia rights holder of Villanova Athletics and the sports industry’s leading revenue maximization company. Villanova University has a long and storied athletics history defined by excellence both in competition and in the classroom. The Villanova Athletics Department is a community of student-athletes, coaches, and staff whose primary focus is to achieve academic excellence while striving to produce teams and individuals committed to athletic competition and outstanding performance. Villanova Athletics sponsors 24 varsity sports, which together include more than 600 student-athletes. For more, visit www.villanova.com . Future Standard is a global alternative asset manager serving institutional and private wealth clients, investing across private equity, credit, real estate and infrastructure. With a 30+ year track record of value creation and $94 billion in assets under management (as of June 30, 2026), it backs the business owners and financial sponsors that drive growth and innovation across the middle market, transforming untapped potential into durable value. Playfly Sports, the sports industry’s leading revenue maximization company, drives growth for its partners across the sports ecosystem – including 2,200+ 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 LinkedIn , Instagram , and X , or visit www.Playfly.com .

Curated by Taleb Kabbara · Source: www.playfly.com