The Depaul University Blue Demons

What The Depaul University Blue Demons does

DePaul University Athletics, branded as the Blue Demons, is the NCAA Division I athletics department of DePaul University, a private Roman Catholic university based in Chicago, Illinois. The department operates 15 men's and women's sports programs competing in the BIG EAST Conference, with flagship sports including men's and women's basketball, women's volleyball, soccer, tennis, cross country, track and field, golf, and softball. Home games are played primarily at Wintrust Arena in downtown Chicago, and the program maintains a registered brand identity across the Blue Demons and DePaul University trademarks.

The department generates revenue through five core streams: ticket sales (men's and women's basketball, volleyball, and other events), corporate partnerships (Wintrust Bank, Nike, Pepsi, Gatorade, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Coors Light, Rush Medical, Marriott Marquis, and others), merchandise and licensing sales through depaulteamshop.com, donations and fundraising (DePaul Athletics Fund, Dream Big capital campaign, Funds for Basketball Excellence), and media rights and broadcast agreements (including FS1 volleyball broadcasts). Go-to-market is event-driven, centered on basketball competition at Wintrust Arena complemented by community outreach via DIBS Kids Club, Camps & Clinics, and corporate activation events.

The underlying technology stack is modest: a digital ticketing system integrated with SeatGeek marketplace, an official DePaul Blue Demons mobile app for iOS and Android, digital marketing platforms, and fan engagement analytics. The department is differentiated academically by 19 consecutive years of ITA All-Academic Team honors in women's tennis and 19 straight years of AVCA Team Academic Awards in women's volleyball, reinforcing the institutional credibility that supports both recruiting and corporate sponsorship value. The NIL platform and co-branded Wintrust DePaul Checking product represent more recent commercial extensions.

Name

The Depaul University Blue Demons

Legal name

DePaul University Athletics

Website

https://depaulbluedemons.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1907

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

DePaul University Athletics (Blue Demons) is the NCAA Division I athletics department of DePaul University, operating 15 men's and women's sports programs in the BIG EAST Conference. It generates revenue from ticket sales, corporate partnerships, merchandise, donations, and media rights, serving fans, students, and corporate sponsors in Chicago.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Collegiate Athletics

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

College/University Sports Events (NCAA & equivalents) (MPAGAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Athletics Events, Game Operations & Ticketing (EDALAIAK), Collegiate Athletic Conferences & Associations (MPAKACAA), Athlete & Team Sponsorship Deals (Official Partners, Jersey/Kit Sponsors) (MPAKALAA), Licensing, Merchandising & Co-Branded Products (Sponsored Merchandise, Collabs) (MPAKALAE)

Keywords

• NCAA Division I athletics
• College sports programs
• Athletic event tickets
• Corporate sports sponsorships
• Licensed sports merchandise

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from selling tickets to men's and women's basketball games, volleyball matches, and other athletic events at Wintrust Arena
2. Corporate Partnerships: Sponsorship agreements with corporate partners including Wintrust Bank, Nike, Pepsi, Gatorade, and others for branding, advertising, and promotional rights
3. Merchandise & Licensing: Sales of licensed apparel and merchandise through depaulteamshop.com and retail partners
4. Donations & Fundraising: Athletics fundraising including the DePaul Athletics Fund, Athletics Facility Capital Campaign (Dream Big), and Funds for Basketball Excellence
5. Media Rights & Broadcast: Television and streaming broadcast agreements including FS1 broadcasts of volleyball matches

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

DePaul University Athletics operates 15 NCAA Division I men's and women's sports programs competing in the BIG EAST Conference, hosting home games at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The department sells game tickets through SeatGeek, offers licensed merchandise via depaulteamshop.com, secures corporate sponsorships with brands such as Wintrust, Nike, Pepsi, and Gatorade, and runs youth engagement programs including Camps & Clinics and the DIBS Kids Club.

Product overview

DePaul University Athletics operates as a unified platform offering 15 competitive NCAA Division I sports programs across men's and women's athletics. The core portfolio includes basketball (men's and women's), soccer, tennis, track & field, cross country, golf, and softball/volleyball. Supporting the competitive programs are auxiliary services including youth camps, a kids club, an official podcast, mobile application, and NIL resources for student-athletes. The athletics department hosts home games primarily at Wintrust Arena and competes in the BIG EAST Conference.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Men's Basketball Program NCAA Division I men's basketball program competing in the BIG EAST Conference; flagship athletic offering with home games at Wintrust Arena, ticketed via SeatGeek, featuring schedule, roster, news, and broadcasts.
• Women's Basketball Program NCAA Division I women's basketball program competing in the BIG EAST Conference; includes schedule, roster, news coverage, and ticketed home games at Wintrust Arena.
• Women's Volleyball Program NCAA Division I women's volleyball program in the BIG EAST Conference; has earned the AVCA Team Academic Award for 19 consecutive years, with home matches at Wintrust Arena including FS1 broadcasts.
• Men's Soccer Program NCAA Division I men's collegiate soccer program with schedule, roster, and match coverage competing in the BIG EAST Conference.
• Women's Soccer Program NCAA Division I women's collegiate soccer program with schedule, roster, and competition coverage competing in the BIG EAST Conference.
• Men's Tennis Program NCAA Division I men's collegiate tennis program with schedule, roster, and tournament results competing in the BIG EAST Conference.
• Women's Tennis Program NCAA Division I women's tennis program that earned the ITA All-Academic Team Honor for 19 consecutive years with a 3.806 team GPA in 2025-26.
• Men's Cross Country Program NCAA Division I men's collegiate cross country program with schedule, roster, and competition news.
• Women's Cross Country Program NCAA Division I women's collegiate cross country program with schedule, roster, and competition news.
• Men's Golf Program NCAA Division I men's collegiate golf program competing in the BIG EAST Conference with schedule and roster.
• Softball Program NCAA Division I women's collegiate softball program competing in the BIG EAST Conference with schedule and roster.
• Track & Field Program Combined men's and women's NCAA Division I track and field program competing in the BIG EAST Conference and NCAA Championships.
• Cheer Program Spirit squad providing fan engagement and support at athletics events with schedule and roster.
• Dance Program Dance team performing at athletics events with schedule and roster information.
• Camps & Clinics Youth sports camps and clinics offering developmental training programs in basketball and other sports for young athletes, delivered by DePaul Athletics.
• DIBS Kids Club Youth fan engagement membership program for children promoting Blue Demons fandom and involvement through events and exclusive activities.
• DePaul Blue Demons Mobile App Official mobile application providing schedules, news, scores, rosters, and notifications to fans and supporters of DePaul Athletics.
• DePaul Team Shop (depaulteamshop.com) Official e-commerce storefront selling licensed Blue Demons apparel, footwear, and accessories produced in partnership with Nike and other retail licensees.
• Game Tickets via SeatGeek Primary and resale ticketing for DePaul Blue Demons men's and women's basketball, volleyball, and other athletic events at Wintrust Arena, distributed through the official SeatGeek ticket marketplace.
• Corporate Partnerships Program Customized sponsorship packages for corporate partners including branding, hospitality, advertising, and marketing activations at DePaul Athletics events and across Blue Demons media channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• Women's tennis achieved 3.806 GPA in 2025-26
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Wintrust BankflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial banking partner providing the DePaul Checking account with $100 signup bonus and exclusive fan perks including 10% team shop discount and 15% concession discounts during basketball home games. Multiple Wintrust locations serve the Chicago area.
• NikeflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerOfficial apparel and equipment partner providing official team gear, footwear, and apparel through depaulteamshop.com and retail partners.
• PepsicoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial beverage partner providing Pepsi products at events and promotional activations.
• GatoradecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sports drink partner providing hydration products for student-athletes and promotional support.
• Coors LightminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial beer partner for alcoholic beverage sales at athletic events.
• Rush University Medical Center / Midwest Orthopaedics at RushcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial orthopedic and sports medicine provider for DePaul student-athletes. Rush provides sports performance services, sports medicine, and physical therapy. Rush is ranked #1 in Illinois for orthopedics and serves as official provider for multiple Chicago professional teams including the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of IllinoiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial health insurance partner providing coverage options and promotional support.
• SeatGeekcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial ticket marketplace partner for buying and selling DePaul athletics event tickets. Provides mobile ticketing integration.
• Marriott Marquis ChicagominorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial hotel partner for visiting teams and athletic department travel accommodations.
• BIG EAST ConferenceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAthletic conference membership providing conference competition, NCAA tournament access, and regional rivalries for all 15 DePaul sports programs.
• NCAAflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational collegiate athletic association governing Division I athletics and NCAA tournament competition.
• Disparti Law GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial personal injury law partner providing legal services and potential NIL support for student-athletes.
• Ion Lincoln ParkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReal estate partner providing housing and residential partnerships for the DePaul community.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Georgetown Hoyas: Big East peer and private urban university with a basketball-centric brand. Comparable in scale of athletics department, mix of revenue streams, and operating model reliant on a single flagship basketball program supplemented by Olympic sports.
• Villanova Wildcats: Big East Conference peer and fellow private Catholic university with a comparable 15+ sport NCAA Division I portfolio. Directly competes in conference play, shares the same media-rights and NCAA tournament access framework, and pursues a similar model of flagship basketball plus Olympic sports.
• Marquette Golden Eagles: Big East peer and fellow private Jesuit university in the Midwest. Operates the same Division I structure, competes for the same Chicago-area recruits, sponsors, and fan base, and runs a similar basketball-centric revenue model with Wintrust Arena–style urban venue presence.
• Creighton Bluejays: Big East peer and fellow private Jesuit university with a similar basketball-forward identity. Competes in the same conference for media rights, NCAA tournament access, and recruiting talent, and operates a comparable sponsorship and athletics-fund structure.
• Xavier Musketeers: Big East peer and private Catholic university with a comparable mid-major D1 portfolio. Overlaps closely in sponsorship categories, NIL positioning, and event-driven revenue model around men's basketball.
• Butler Bulldogs: Big East peer and fellow private university with comparable scale and a basketball-led brand identity. Similar mid-major D1 operating profile with corporate partnership and athletics fund-driven revenue mix.
• Seton Hall Pirates: Big East peer and private Catholic university with a comparable 15+ sport Division I portfolio. Competes in the same conference for the same media-rights dollars and operates the same basketball-forward revenue model.
• St. John's Red Storm: Big East peer and private urban Catholic university with a basketball-driven brand. Comparable in scale, market positioning, and dependency on flagship basketball program for revenue generation.
• Providence Friars: Big East peer and private Catholic university with a comparable NCAA Division I athletics portfolio. Direct conference competitor across multiple sports with overlapping sponsorship categories and recruiting geography.

Regional players

• Northwestern Wildcats: Private Division I university located in the Chicago suburbs, competing in the Big Ten. While not a direct conference peer, Northwestern competes with DePaul for the same Chicago-area corporate sponsors, recruits, and fans, and operates a comparable private-university Division I athletics model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/depaulathletics
• YouTubeyoutube.com/depaulathletics
• Facebookfacebook.com/DePaulBlueDemons
• Instagraminstagram.com/depaulathletics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Depaul University Blue Demons