DURHAM — Durham Sports Commission (DSC) made an announcement June 1 that it has established a new partnership with Varsity Brands.

It is the market leader in team sports, school spirit, and achievement recognition. One of its operating businesses, BSN SPORTS, is the nation’s largest direct marketer and distributor of sporting goods to the school and league markets and a division of Varsity Brands.

Through this partnership, BSN SPORTS will serve as the official apparel and equipment provider to the Durham Sports Commission. The program will also benefit from access to BSN SPORTS’ line of custom facility branding products and customizable fanwear shops for the many events the DSC hosts.

Marcus Manning, Executive Director of Durham Sports Commission, stated, “This unique and strategic partnership with Varsity Brands and BSN Sports fits within the fabric of striving to have an impact on the Durham sports community, recruiting events to our community, enhancing the awareness and experience of sporting events and continuing to build the brand awareness of the DSC. I can’t thank Varsity Brands enough for this unique opportunity, and we’re excited about what the future holds.”

Matt D’Orazio, Senior Vice President of Varsity Brands added, “Exclusive partnerships like the one we have announced today drive our mission of elevating experiences for athletes and their supporters who will attend these events.”

The DSC is a collaboration of the City of Durham, the County of Durham, the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce and Discover Durham. It was established in 2016 with a mission to create economic and social impact by leading the community’s efforts to attract, support, and promote youth, amateur, collegiate, and professional sporting and recreational events and is operated by Discover Durham.

Dallas-based BSN SPORTS is the leading marketer, manufacturer and distributor of sporting goods apparel and equipment. A division of Varsity Brands, BSN SPORTS markets and distributes its products to over 100,000 institutional and team sports customers in colleges and universities, middle and high schools, and recreational programs throughout the United States via catalog, e-commerce, and direct sales.

Varsity Brands elevates the student experience, promotes participation and celebrates achievement through three unique, but interrelated businesses: BSN SPORTS, a Varsity Sport Brand; Varsity Spirit; and Herff Jones, A Varsity Achievement Brand. Together, these assets promote personal, school and community pride through their customizable products and programs to elementary and middle schools, high schools, and colleges and universities, as well as church organizations, professional and collegiate sports teams and corporations.

For more information about the DSC and its partnership with Varsity Brands, contact Margaret Pentrack at mpentrack@discoverdurham.com.