The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) has announced a new partnership with CLC, a leading collegiate licensing company.
The agreement grants CLC exclusive rights to license merchandise and products featuring the GCAC logo and marks. This move comes ahead of the GCAC’s planned rebranding to the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) in July and coincides with the conference’s membership expansion efforts.
“We are thrilled to embark on this journey with CLC as we transition to the HBCU Athletic Conference,” said Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes, GCAC Commissioner. “This partnership provides licensing security, ensuring our conference’s identity is properly represented in the marketplace.”
CLC specializes in collaborating with partner institutions to develop customized merchandise programs. They work with top consumer product companies to create products that meet the needs of college fans while elevating brand recognition at retail. CLC will leverage its industry expertise to identify new product and marketing opportunities for the GCAC and its member institutions in anticipation of the HBCUAC rebranding.
“We are excited to partner with the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference as they move to become the HBCUAC and to help celebrate the rich heritage and tradition of historically black colleges and universities through officially licensed merchandise,” said Brad Coley, CLC’s vice president of partnerships. “This partnership underscores our commitment to enhancing the fan experience for these esteemed institutions while supporting the unique identities of collegiate conferences and their member schools.”
