With the long-awaited return of EA Sports’ College Football 25 over the summer, video games have been the talk of the NIL this season. Now, another iconic franchise — outside of the football arena — has entered the “nothing” conversation. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of its critically acclaimed massively multiplayer online game World of Warcraft, Blizzard Entertainment has announced its first college sports collaboration with the University of Washington.
This week, the school will be rebranded as “University of Warcraft,” — with a new logo — culminating with an in-game activation during Friday night’s home finale versus UCLA. The game will feature World of Warcraft mascots leading the team onto the field, special student section jerseys and visuals integrated into Husky Stadium’s videoboard production, among other unique elements.
“We are thrilled to unite interactive entertainment with the sports industry to celebrate 20 incredible years of World of Warcraft, which has delighted millions of players around the world,” said Monica Austin, Chief Marketing Officer, Blizzard Entertainment. “Our teams have worked together to create amazing in-person and streaming experiences for fans, and we hope Husky Nation and World of Warcraft players alike will be excited about WoW all the way to Washington.”
University of Washington x World of Warcraft/Blizzard Entertainment
World of Warcraft has an experience of around 250 million players globally, and will now add more games to their roster. The collaboration with Washington includes NIL deals with football players Carson Broner, Denzel Boston, Jonah Coleman, Camden Simon, Adam Muhammad, Camryn Fabikolanan, Jacob Layne, Cameron Broussard, D’Angalo Titiali, Daymond Williams Jr. and Will Rodgers who will create custom products. “University of Warcraft” content and rebranding promotion.
“We are excited to partner with Blizzard Entertainment in a groundbreaking collaboration that brings together the worlds of sports and gaming, and highlights our shared commitment to innovation and creativity,” said Kurt Svoboda, deputy athletic director for external relations at the University of Washington. “Our football players have had a unique opportunity to contribute to Blizzard’s 20th anniversary celebration, gaining valuable insights into the creative production process behind an iconic brand. We look forward to taking over World of Warcraft on Friday at Husky Stadium, where two powerful brands will come together.” For an unforgettable experience.”
Washington’s final home game against UCLA at Husky Stadium kicks off at 9pm ET on Friday and will be broadcast on FOX.
