2026 COLLEGE GAMING SPONSORSHIP

BE A PART OF THE LARGEST GAMING CROSSOVER EVENT IN HISTORY

Get ready for the Legends Cup—a new collegiate gaming program launching in Q4 ’25 and Q1 ’26, reaching more than 6 million students nationwide. From online qualifiers to live national finals, the Legends Cup will bring the energy of competitive gaming to campuses everywhere, giving students the chance to connect, compete, and cement their legacy.

For your brand, the Legends Cup is more than just a gaming event—it’s a direct line to Gen Z gamers, one of the most passionate and influential student communities. Sponsors can tap into unmatched reach and engagement through:

  • Top gaming influencers amplifying the tournament across social channels
  • On-campus and digital media powered by Barnes & Noble College’s nationwide network
  • Integrated brand activations that drive awareness, loyalty, and sales

This is your chance to align with the future of college gaming and make your brand part of the experience.

BRANDS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO AUTHENTICALLY JOIN THE GAMING ECOSYSTEM BY CONNECTING WITH A HIGHLY ENGAGED COLLEGE GAMING AUDIENCE

  • Connect

    Create excitement and imagination around your brand through a highly targeted gaming digital marketing campaign.

  • Play

    Keep your brand top of mind among thousands of college gaming fans and players nationwide by placing your brand within the context of college gaming.

  • Shop

    Drive brand awareness, customer acquistion, and sales among millions of college gamers and fans, alongside leading gaming influencers and their fan base.

ARTICLES & AWARDS:

  • GAMESQUARE PARTNERS WITH BARNES & NOBLE COLLEGE

    GAMESQUARE HOLDINGS (NASDAQ:GAME) HAS ENTERED INTO A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH BARNES & NOBLE COLLEGE (BNC), A DIVISION OF BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION (NYSE: BNED) TO BUILD COLLEGIATE ESPORTS AND GAMING-RELATED PROGRAMMING ACROSS THE U.S. Read More Here.

  • 2022 BEST ENDEMIC BRAND ACTIVATION VERIZON COLLEGIATE ESPORTS SERIES INVITATIONAL

    Program Highlights

     

    529 registered players from 223 schools, including College League of Legends Champions Winthrop University.

     

    5.8MM+ dedicated emails deployed by Barnes & Noble College to students nationwide, achieving above-industry open and click-through rates.

     

    11+ hours of live gameplay produced, with 83K minutes of content consumed by viewers.

     

    14.7MM total impressions delivered across all marketing elements

THE LEGENDS CUP PROVIDES SPONSORS WITH MASSIVE REACH AND EXPOSURE TO THE HIGHLY COVETED GEN Z COLLEGE GAMER AND FANS

Z360

MEDIA THAT SURROUNDS COLLEGE LIFE

Barnes & Noble College allows brands to go beyond traditional media impressions. We drive meaningful conversations along every stage of the college journey. Our fully integrated platform builds relationships that deliver lifelong, repeat customers from the moment of acceptance to graduation and beyond.

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