The Summit League
The Summit League is an NCAA Division I non-profit athletic conference governing 18 championship sports across eight full-time member universities in the U.S. Midwest, distributing content nationally via CBS Sports Network and globally through the Summit League Network streaming platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersSioux Falls, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Summit League does
The Summit League is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic conference headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, operating as a private non-profit entity founded in 1981. It governs 18 championship sports across eight full-time member institutions in the U.S. Midwest, including North Dakota State University, South Dakota State University, University of North Dakota, University of South Dakota, University of Nebraska Omaha, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Oral Roberts University, and University of St. Thomas, serving a combined enrollment of nearly 100,000 students. The League's core products are structured NCAA Division I athletic competition, the annual Basketball Championships, the Commissioner's Cup all-sports award, and the Summit League Network (SLN), a branded digital streaming platform powered by Midco Sports Plus with multi-platform distribution across mobile, connected TV, and smart TV applications.
The conference generates revenue through negotiated media rights (CBS Sports Network for national linear broadcast and Midco Sports Plus for streaming), championship tournament ticket sales (managed via Ticketmaster and KELOLAND Box Office), and institutional sponsorship arrangements. Its 18-employee staff operates a lean governance structure with Josh Fenton serving as Commissioner. The League invested in professional media rights advisory (CSMG) to negotiate a four-year extension through 2029-30 with both CBS Sports and Midco Sports, and it received the Knight Commission's C.A.R.E. Model Conference Grant plus C.A.R.E. Champion distinction in September 2025 for connecting athletics revenues with educational values and gender equity. The customer base consists of member institutions, student-athletes, and sports fans, with media partnerships anchored through 2029-30 providing multi-year revenue visibility.
The Summit League firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Summit League
- Legal name
- The Summit League
- Website
- https://thesummitleague.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Summit League is an NCAA Division I non-profit athletic conference governing 18 championship sports across eight full-time member universities in the U.S. Midwest, distributing content nationally via CBS Sports Network and globally through the Summit League Network streaming platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Summit League industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Collegiate Athletic Conference
- NAICS
- Spectator Sports (71121), Business Associations (813910)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Collegiate Athletic Conferences & Associations (MPAKACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- National Collegiate Governing Bodies (e.g., NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA/USCAA) (MPAKACAC)
Keywords
Where The Summit League is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sioux Falls
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Summit League business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | All-Session Tournament Tickets |
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Summit League product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Summit League organizes and governs NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletic competition across 18 championship sports for eight member institutions. It negotiates collective media rights (CBS Sports Network and Summit League Network powered by Midco Sports Plus), distributes conference revenues, sanctions championship events including the annual Basketball Championships, and administers awards such as the Commissioner's Cup.
Product overview
The Summit League is a NCAA Division I athletic conference offering 18 championship sports. Its primary products include the Summit League Network (SLN), a streaming platform powered by Midco Sports Plus that delivers live and on-demand content globally; the annual Summit League Basketball Championships featuring men's and women's tournaments broadcast on CBS Sports Network; and the Commissioner's Cup, an all-sports award recognizing overall athletic program excellence. The League also offers various sports-specific championships across its 18 sponsored sports.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Summit League Network (SLN) The official streaming platform of The Summit League, powered by Midco Sports Plus, delivering live and on-demand Summit League competition to fans worldwide via mobile apps, connected TV devices, web browser, and Samsung/LG smart TVs.
- Summit League Basketball Championships
Quantifiable outcome
- 37 programs earned perfect Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000 for 2024-25 academic year
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use The Summit League
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Summit League technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
The Summit League partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- CBS SportscoreNational linear television partner with four-year extension through 2029-30. Will air minimum 9 regular season games (increased from 7), guarantee of 2 women's basketball regular season contests, plus Men's and Women's Basketball Championship title games and selected semifinals on CBS Sports Network.
- Midco SportscoreOfficial streaming home of The Summit League with Summit League Network powered by Midco Sports Plus. Four-year extension through 2029-30 with product enhancements including My Clips feature, international expansion, new schedule page with sorting/favoriting capabilities, and Samsung/LG smart TV app support.
- First PREMIER Bank / PREMIER BankcardminorSponsor of First Responders Appreciation Day at Basketball Championships, providing complimentary tickets for first responders with valid identification.
- Knight Commission on Intercollegiate AthleticsflagshipReceived $25,000 C.A.R.E. Model Conference Grant recognizing commitment to connecting athletics revenues with educational values. The C.A.R.E. Model (Connecting Athletics Revenues with the Educational Model of College Sports) supports educational mission with principles of transparency, independent oversight, gender equity incentives, and financial responsibility.
- Collegiate Sports Management Group (CSMG)coreAssisted the League during media rights analysis and negotiation process over the past year, helping secure CBS Sports and Midco Sports extensions.
- NCAAflagshipThe Summit League is an NCAA Division I conference operating under NCAA governance with 18 championship sports.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Summit League competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Big Sky Conference: Mid-major NCAA Division I conference also recognized as a C.A.R.E. Champion by the Knight Commission. Direct peer in tier, governance approach, and mid-major competitive positioning.
- Missouri Valley Conference: Mid-major NCAA Division I collegiate athletic conference with a similar member profile of Midwest/Plains universities. Directly comparable as a peer conference operating in the same competitive tier and NCAA governance structure.
- Horizon League: Mid-major NCAA Division I conference with comparable membership size and Midwest footprint. Operates in similar competitive tier with overlapping institutional types and media market dynamics.
- Western Athletic Conference (WAC): Mid-major NCAA Division I conference of similar size and structure. Operates as a direct peer in mid-major college athletics with comparable membership dynamics and media challenges.
- America East Conference: NCAA Division I mid-major conference that is also a C.A.R.E. Model Conference Grant recipient alongside The Summit League. Directly comparable peer in tier, governance values, and operational scale.
- Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC): Mid-major NCAA Division I conference also recognized as a C.A.R.E. Champion. Operates as a direct peer at the same competitive tier with similar values-based governance.
- Patriot League: NCAA Division I conference and fellow C.A.R.E. Model Conference Grant recipient. Operates as a direct peer at the same competitive tier with similar governance values and institutional profile.
- The Southern Conference: NCAA Division I conference also recognized as a C.A.R.E. Champion for a second consecutive year. Direct peer at the mid-major tier with overlapping institutional types and governance approach.
- Ohio Valley Conference: NCAA Division I conference of comparable size and mid-major status, with similar number of championship sports and member institution profile. Operates in overlapping geographic markets in the Midwest/Plains region.
- Southland Conference: NCAA Division I mid-major conference of comparable scale and structure. Direct peer in mid-major college athletics competitive tier.
Market position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Summit League social profiles
Digital presenceThe Summit League financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Summit League leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Summit League funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Summit League 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 The Summit League
What does The Summit League do?
The Summit League organizes and governs NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletic competition across 18 championship sports for eight member institutions. It negotiates collective media rights (CBS Sports Network and Summit League Network powered by Midco Sports Plus), distributes conference revenues, sanctions championship events including the annual Basketball Championships, and administers awards such as the Commissioner's Cup.
Is The Summit League a public or private company?
The Summit League is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Summit League founded?
The Summit League was founded in 1981. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Summit League based?
The Summit League is headquartered in Sioux Falls, United States, in the North America region.
Who are The Summit League's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Big Sky Conference, Missouri Valley Conference, Horizon League, Western Athletic Conference (WAC), America East Conference, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), Patriot League, The Southern Conference, Ohio Valley Conference and Southland Conference.
Does The Summit League have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Summit League.
What industry is The Summit League in?
The Summit League's product category is Collegiate Athletic Conference. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKACAA, Collegiate Athletic Conferences & Associations, with a secondary code of MPAKACAC, National Collegiate Governing Bodies (e.g., NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA/USCAA). Its NAICS code is 71121 and its SIC code is 8600.