THE YOUNG CONSUMER OPPORTUNITY:

The Path Forward for College Athletics Revenue

How young alumni are shifting the fundamental economics in college sports and opening up a major revenue opportunity for athletic programs.

Black and white photo of football players on the field and sidelines during a game.

INSIDE THE MINDS (AND WALLETS) 
OF YOUNG COLLEGE SPORTS FANS

EPIC, Elevate’s proprietary data platform, reveals how young alumni are engaging—and spending—differently. A few signals worth exploring in our report:

Two orange lines formatted perpendicular to form a plus sign. Crowd at a stadium holds up phones capturing a large American flag on the field.
Young alumni are far more likely to have spent on college athletics in the past year
Two orange lines formatted perpendicular to form a plus sign. Basketball player in white jersey jumps to shoot while two defenders in dark uniforms try to block him.
They’re twice as likely to choose premium or VIP experiences than fans who are 35+
Two orange lines formatted perpendicular to form a plus sign. Two men smiling next to a Big East Conference trophy on a table with branded backdrop behind them.
They’re investing in moments beyond 
the game itself—from hospitality to on-field access

Our data shows clear behavioral signals that reveal who's ready to spend more—and what exactly they're looking for.

Black and white crowd of sports fans in white cheering with pom-poms, football players blurry in front.Two orange lines formatted perpendicular to form a plus sign.
What if you could convert just 5% more of these fans into premium customers? The opportunity is not hypothetical — it’s measurable.
That’s the power of aligning product design with what young alumni truly value. Our data shows clear behavioral signals that reveal who’s ready to spend more—and what exactly they’re looking for.

Powered by the observable behaviors of more than 250 million U.S. consumers, EPIC captures more than 20,000 unique behavioral, psychographic, and demographic signals. It’s not just about what fans say—it’s about what they do, watch, attend, buy, and share.
Download the WHITE PAPER and learn how to turn interest into impact.
Insights on:
  • What premium features do young fans actually care about?
  • How do their everyday preferences translate to gameday?
  • What segments are most ready to convert—and how do you reach them?