OUCU Financial commits to three-year partnership with OHIO Esports program

OUCU Financial Credit Union became the first multi-year sponsor of 51�� Esports through a partnership agreement on Aug. 13, 2024. This sponsorship, which will run through June 30, 2027, is a watershed event in the development of OHIO Esports.

The OHIO Esports Program has grown steadily since its inception in 2021 through the efforts of its director, Dr. Jeffrey Kuhn who has taken the OHIO’s Esports program from the concept stage to become one of the top esports programs in Ohio. In addition to operationalizing esports for OHIO students, his work facilitated OHIO’s creation of an esports arena on campus, an esports certificate program, and expansion of OHIO’s Esports clubs throughout the University system. Prior to the multi-year sponsorship of OUCU, the program had been supported by a variety of small year-to-year corporate sponsorships and specific naming opportunities at lower levels.

“We could not be happier,” said Kuhn in relation to the sponsorship. “This will allow Esports at OHIO to achieve a level of visibility and competitive play we haven’t been able to reach before.”

Last year OHIO Esports boasted a club membership of over 850 members, making it one of the largest clubs on campus. The OHIO Esports Arena also saw more than 1,200 visits in the first six months of 2024 alone. On Saturday, March 16, OHIO Esports broadcasting saw more than 2,000 single-day views when it hosted the Ohio High School Central/Southeast Playoff Tournament.

The OUCU Financial Sponsorship is at the “Diamond” level which will allow OUCU Financial the highest visibility through social media, sponsorship acknowledgement, and logo visibility during broadcast.

“This has been an amazing opportunity for us to invest in this program, deepen our relationship with 51��, and have a lot of fun in the process,” commented Nick Jensen, CFO of OUCU Financial. “From the commitment to provide students with hands-on experiential learning for a wide range of careers to the opportunities to learn transferable work and life skills like teamwork and leadership, the eSports program and club are providing a dynamic and inclusive space for their members and student athletes. This partnership aligns not only with OUCU Financial’s commitment to service for our members in Southeastern Ohio, but also underscores our desire to push the envelope of creative outreach through digital marketing and social media.”

OHIO Esports provides social media access through Twitch, Discord, TikTok, and Instagram.

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