MANKATO, Minn. - Minnesota State athletic department officials announced a new, three-year agreement with UNRL to be its exclusive supplier of athletic leisurewear and limited lines collections. The St. Paul based company is headed by Minnesota State alum, Michael E. Jordan, founder and CEO of UNRL. This year, Jordan was awarded ACG Minnesota's 2024 Boldest Leader of the Year award, but his dramatic rise as one of the most innovative minds in the sports apparel industry came from humble beginnings.
Over 10 years ago, Jordan founded UNRL in his mother's basement with a $300 investment and an ambition to build a brand. He steadily grew UNRL's foundation by establishing strong core values, designing high-quality products and with a passion to Leave a Legacy. UNRL is partners with retailers across the country including Scheels and Von Maur, and has successfully launched collaborations with notable organizations, including the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Wild, Barstool Sports, Folds of Honor, Polaris, and many other collegiate/professional sports teams.
"We couldn't be more thrilled to align our brand reputationally with one of the most recognized names in the sports apparel industry," explained Minnesota State Director of Athletics, Kevin Buisman. "As an institution, we are incredibly proud of what Michael has accomplished and it's awesome to have this opportunity to collaborate. We appreciate his generous support and are excited about the vision of how this partnership might further grow and develop over time."
"The team at UNRL is excited to partner with Minnesota State and Maverick Athletics to bring this partnership to life," noted UNRL Senior Marketing Manager and MSU Alum, Kelsey Brumm. "There is a long history between the two organizations, and with MSU being where the journey began for Michael, we couldn't have landed on a better opportunity to showcase the brand with such a highly regarded University."
The UNRL brand will have a noticeable presence at Maverick Athletic facilities on the campus and across the community as a result of the commitment; with the logo prominently displayed on the Blakeslee Stadium field, in-ice at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, and on the floor and videoboard at Taylor Center's Bresnan Arena, with many other marketing asset elements included. The department will also receive incentivized discount pricing based on sales volume and future plans include placement of limited lines apparel collections, both online and with selected retail partners.
In turn, each Maverick student-athlete will be receiving an exclusive box set of team-issued apparel items and will later be part of the 'UNRL experience', that will feature a keynote speaker kickoff event designed to bring excitement, uniqueness, and motivation that highlights the heart of the partnership and showcases what it means to be a UNRL Athlete, while emphasizing the special nature of this collaboration.
"What a tremendous way to kick off homecoming week. We are excited for our coaches and student- athletes", Buisman concluded. "This partnership sets us apart in the marketplace and we are grateful to Michael and UNRL for their willingness to work with us at this level."
