Bison
Bison, Inc. is a Lincoln, Nebraska-based U.S. manufacturer, founded in 1985, that designs and builds indoor and outdoor sports equipment (basketball, volleyball, soccer, football, and more) sold via a U.S. dealer network to K-12 schools, colleges, recreation departments, and homeowners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersLincoln, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Bison does
Bison, Inc., founded in 1985 and headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of indoor and outdoor sports and athletic equipment sold primarily to educational institutions and recreational facilities. The company operates a single 100,000+ square foot manufacturing facility in Lincoln with a 100+ person American workforce and U.S.-sourced materials. Bison's product portfolio spans approximately twenty sport categories and includes institutional and competition-grade basketball systems (including T-REX and Baseline 180 breakaway goals), volleyball systems (CarbonMax carbon-fiber posts, Centerline Elite aluminum posts, Arena II portable), soccer goals with QwikTrack net attachments, PerfectGoal adjustable football goalposts, DuraSkin backboard padding, gym backboards, lacrosse and field hockey goals, badminton, tennis, pickleball, tetherball, futsal, team handball, baseball/softball equipment, bleachers, benches, wall padding, custom graphic scorers tables, and residential basketball sub-brands (HangTime, QwikChange, ZipCrank). Proprietary technology is concentrated in safety and configurability features: built-in net attachment tracks (QwikTrack), adjustable ground sleeves (PerfectGoal), carbon fiber post designs (CarbonMax), and the original pin-style backboard padding (DuraSkin).
Bison generates revenue through one-time hardware sales via an authorized dealer network across the United States, complemented by direct quote requests via phone (800-247-7668) and website. Pricing is quote-based with dealer pricing typically delivered within 24 hours and a 2-day shipping guarantee on popular SKUs. Price points span from entry-level accessories ($22 scorebooks, $532 tetherball sets) to premium competition-grade systems ($24,875 basketball systems, $27,513 volleyball systems). The customer base spans K-12 schools, colleges and universities (NCAA athletic programs including University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Arizona, and Notre Dame are reference customers), parks and recreation departments, and residential homeowners through sub-brands. Bison holds an exclusive NFHS partnership for basketball, providing regulatory credibility across U.S. high school athletics, and select T-REX portable basketball systems are FIBA approved for international competition use. Lifetime warranty programs on select products and the Made-in-USA positioning are key value-proposition elements for institutional buyers.
Bison firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bison
- Legal name
- Bison, Inc.
- Website
- https://bisoninc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bison, Inc. is a Lincoln, Nebraska-based U.S. manufacturer, founded in 1985, that designs and builds indoor and outdoor sports equipment (basketball, volleyball, soccer, football, and more) sold via a U.S. dealer network to K-12 schools, colleges, recreation departments, and homeowners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bison industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Athletic Equipment Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992)
- SIC
- Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Physical Education & Athletics Equipment (Gym, Sports Gear, Scoreboards) (EDAEAIAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Team Sports Training Aids & Coaching Equipment Retail (CRAMAEAL)
Keywords
Where Bison is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lincoln
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bison business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Sports Equipment Sales: One-time hardware sales of athletic equipment including basketball systems, volleyball systems, soccer goals, and other sports equipment to schools, facilities, and consumers. Equipment is sold through dealers with pricing provided via quote requests. Products include various price points from entry-level to premium competition-grade systems.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Entry-level/Recreational Equipment |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Competition/Professional Grade Equipment |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Institutional/Wholesale via Dealers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Bison product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bison manufactures indoor and outdoor athletic equipment at its Lincoln, Nebraska facility, including basketball systems (portable, wall-mounted, gooseneck, residential), volleyball systems (CarbonMax carbon fiber, aluminum, steel), soccer goals, football goalposts, and net games (tennis, badminton, pickleball, tetherball). Products are designed for institutional buyers such as K-12 schools, colleges, and parks departments, and are sold through a network of authorized sporting goods dealers across the United States. The company also offers safety padding, scoring tables, bleachers, benches, and custom graphics.
Product overview
Bison is a sports and athletic equipment manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of institutional-quality products since 1985. The company operates as a single unified product line centered on sports facility equipment, encompassing basketball systems (indoor, outdoor, and residential), volleyball systems (indoor and sand/outdoor), soccer goals, football goalposts, and various net games including badminton, tennis, pickleball, lacrosse, field hockey, futsal, team handball, and tetherball. Additional offerings include baseball/softball equipment, bleachers, benches, wall padding systems, scoring tables, and safety graphics. The product architecture is organized as core product categories (basketball, volleyball, soccer/field sports) with sub-brands for residential use (HangTime, QwikChange, ZipCrank) and proprietary systems/accessories (QwikTrack, PerfectGoal, DuraSkin, Correct Call). All products are manufactured in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- HangTime: Upper-scale residential basketball system with adjustable height 5" and 6" square poles featuring spring lift mechanisms
- QwikChange
- ZipCrank
- T-REX
- CarbonMax
- Centerline Elite
- PerfectGoal
- QwikTrack
- DuraSkin
- Sport Pride
Products and services
- Indoor & Outdoor Basketball Systems
Quantifiable outcome
- 2-day shipping guarantee on popular basketball and volleyball equipment
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Bison
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Bison technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Bison partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)coreBison is the exclusive NFHS partner for the sport of basketball. This partnership provides Bison with regulatory credibility and access to the network of state high school athletic associations. NFHS partnership is highlighted prominently on the company's basketball equipment product pages and marketing materials.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bison competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Lifetime Products: Large incumbent in adjustable basketball systems (Lifetime, Lifetime, Lifetime Pro Court) and broader sporting/adjustable furniture, retail-heavy. Adjacent in basketball goals and pickelball sets but materially broader catalog.
- Anthem Sports / Escalade Sports: Multi-brand sporting-goods holding with portfolios including Goalrilla basketball systems, Pickleball Central, and several team-sport equipment brands. Overlaps with Bison on basketball goals and net sports via owned brands but at much larger scale and breadth.
- Spalding (Riddell / Russell Brands): Iconic sporting-goods brand with basketballs and a portfolio of equipment including backboards and goals. Competes with Bison in selected categories but is a broad incumbent rather than a focused institutional peer.
Direct peers
- First Team Sports: Manufacturer of basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and outdoor athletic equipment targeting institutional and recreational markets. Overlapping SKU breadth and dealer-based sales approach make it a near-direct peer.
- Gared Sports: Direct competitor in indoor and outdoor institutional sports equipment including basketball systems, volleyball systems, and wall padding. Competes for the same K-12 and college RFPs as Bison with overlapping dealer network.
- Jaypro Sports: Broad-line manufacturer and distributor of institutional athletic equipment, bleachers, and field sport gear. Direct overlap with Bison across volleyball, basketball, soccer goals, and bleachers sold to schools and rec facilities.
- Goalsetter Systems: Specialist in residential and institutional adjustable basketball goal systems sold through dealers and big-box retailers. Most direct overlap with Bison's T-REX, ZipCrank, and HangTime residential basketball portfolio.
- Porter Athletic Equipment: Long-standing U.S. manufacturer of basketball, volleyball, and athletic facility equipment sold primarily to schools and colleges. Closest direct analog to Bison across product line, customer segments (K-12 and NCAA), and dealer-channel distribution model.
- Cramer Sports / Cramer Products: Established manufacturer of athletic training room, sideline, and sports equipment sold to schools, colleges, and professional teams. Comparable in customer base (educational athletics) and OEM-style distribution model.
Others
- Draper, Inc. (Athletica Sport): Manufacturer of gymnasium equipment including volleyball systems, divider curtains, and athletic facility products. Adjacent competitor with overlap on indoor volleyball and gymnasium installations; useful for institutional comparison.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bison social profiles
Digital presenceBison compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Bison financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bison leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Bison funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bison M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bison
What does Bison do?
Bison manufactures indoor and outdoor athletic equipment at its Lincoln, Nebraska facility, including basketball systems (portable, wall-mounted, gooseneck, residential), volleyball systems (CarbonMax carbon fiber, aluminum, steel), soccer goals, football goalposts, and net games (tennis, badminton, pickleball, tetherball). Products are designed for institutional buyers such as K-12 schools, colleges, and parks departments, and are sold through a network of authorized sporting goods dealers across the United States. The company also offers safety padding, scoring tables, bleachers, benches, and custom graphics.
Is Bison a public or private company?
Bison is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Bison founded?
Bison was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bison based?
Bison is headquartered in Lincoln, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bison make money?
One revenue line is on record: sports Equipment Sales.
Who are Bison's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Lifetime Products, Anthem Sports / Escalade Sports and Spalding (Riddell / Russell Brands). Direct peers are First Team Sports, Gared Sports, Jaypro Sports, Goalsetter Systems, Porter Athletic Equipment and Cramer Sports / Cramer Products. Draper, Inc. (Athletica Sport) is listed as an others.
Does Bison have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bison.
What industry is Bison in?
Bison's product category is Athletic Equipment Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAIAG, Physical Education & Athletics Equipment (Gym, Sports Gear, Scoreboards), with a secondary code of CRAMAEAL, Team Sports Training Aids & Coaching Equipment Retail. Its NAICS code is 33992 and its SIC code is 3949.