Knight Eady will continue to manage and operate the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s (AHSAA) football and basketball state championships and the AHSAA’s corporate partner program through 2029.
Knight Eady has managed the AHSAA’s football and basketball state championships since 2014. Since the start of the partnership, Knight Eady and the AHSAA have grown the championships to provide fans and student-athletes a premium championship experience unique to the AHSAA.
In addition to the management of the football and basketball state championships, Knight Eady will continue to manage the AHSAA’s corporate partner program. Over the past decade, Knight Eady has helped integrate corporate partners across all AHSAA’s platforms, such as the AHSAA’s website, clinics and more avenues outside of the championship events. Over the years, Knight Eady’s expertise has led to over a 20 percent increase in sponsorship revenue, totalling over $1.4 million.
Knight Eady’s expertise provided a comprehensive brand strategy that had a clear vision for how sponsors would be represented over all championships. This holistic strategy mimicked the successful model of collegiate partnerships, elevating the inventory, assets and brand recognition for the AHSAA’s corporate partners. For example, together with Knight Eady and the AHSAA, corporate partners like Jack’s have been given creative opportunities to provide powerful moments in high school sports by associating their brand to specific championship memories. Jack’s co-branded state championship hats that were first implemented at the football championship. This provided student-athletes with a lasting memory long after the confetti fell, and today, the hats are given to the winners across all championships.
Over the 10 years of partnership, the AHSAA has given back over $8 million to its member schools, in large part due to the growth generated within the corporate partner program. Knight Eady is excited to be a part of this philanthropic giveback, it’s core to Knight Eady to give back through sports and the revenue sharing with the AHSAA aligns with our core values.
“We’ve enjoyed getting to work with the AHSAA over the years and look forward to continuing the partnership for the next five years,” said Michael Eady, President and CEO of Knight Eady. “One aspect of the partnership that we both rank as a priority, is the ability to give back and make a meaningful impact through sports. Being able to be a small part of the $8 million the AHSAA has given to their member schools is incredibly meaningful to us.”
This year’s football and basketball state championships will be held in Birmingham at Protective Stadium and Legacy Arena at the BJCC.
