NEWARK, Del. – High 5 Hospitality has agreed to a multi-year extension and expansion of its partnership with Delaware Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation and athletic multimedia rights holder Delaware Sports Properties to include traditional and new assets highlighted by logo patches on the jerseys of the Blue Hens’ mascots, YoUDee and Baby Blue, the organizations announced jointly on Thursday.
The unique addition of mascot jersey patch logos is a perfect match for High 5 Hospitality’s enthusiasm for community engagement as it will provide significant visibility in the Blue Hen fanbase as YoUDee and Baby Blue are highly active both on and off campus.
“We’re excited to continue supporting Delaware Athletics as they make the historic move to the FBS and Conference USA,” CEO of High 5 Hospitality Bobby Pancake said. “As proud partners of UD Athletics, it’s an honor to be part of this exciting new chapter for the Blue Hens football program. The addition of our Buffalo Wild Wings logo to YoUDee’s and Baby Blue’s jerseys not only strengthens our connection with the university but also allows us to be front and center during this significant milestone. We’re looking forward to cheering them on every step of the way.”
Having been a valued partner of the Blue Hens for six years, High 5 Hospitality continued support of UD Athletics continues to provide many of its traditional partnership assets as well as several key additional assets, including in-venue digital signage on football gamedays and a co-branded football ticket package.
High 5 Hospitality also remains Delaware’s mobile ticket confirmation sponsor while their mascot, Obie, will continue to join YoUDee and Baby Blue in the Bob Carpenter Center on men’s basketball gamedays.
“We are so excited to further this partnership with High 5 Hospitality,” University of Delaware Director of Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation Chrissi Rawak said. “High 5 Hospitality has been a valued partner and joining together on this unique opportunity will continue that partnership. It is important that we partner with businesses with similar core values and contribute to the success of the 302!”
In addition to its seven Buffalo Wild Wings locations in Delaware, High 5 Hospitality also owns and operates two additional Buffalo Wild Wings locations in Maryland, seven Jersey Mike’s locations in Delaware, Limestone BBQ and Bourbon in Wilmington, Del., and Eggspectation locations in Christiana, Del., and Timonium, Md.
“We are thrilled to expand our relationship with High 5 Hospitality, and we look forward to continuing to engage the Blue Hen fanbase with them by our side,” General Manager of Delaware Sports Properties Daniel Ammon said. “They are a valued partner for the Delaware Athletics and a valuable member of the Newark community and beyond.”
Delaware Sports Properties, the locally based team of Learfield – the media and technology company powering college athletics – is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Delaware Athletics and oversees all sponsorship agreements on behalf of the Blue Hens.
About High 5 Hospitality
Founded in 2004, High 5 Hospitality (H5H) is a Delaware-based company that owns and operates a diverse portfolio of 19 restaurants and sports bars across Delaware and Maryland. With a mission to provide outstanding service, great food, and memorable experiences, H5H is the franchisee for well-known brands such as Buffalo Wild Wings, Jersey Mike’s, Eggspectation and independently owns Limestone BBQ and Bourbon. Committed to community involvement and excellence, H5H continuously seeks to create opportunities for growth while giving back through local partnerships and initiatives. For more information, visit www.high5hospitality.com
About University of Delaware Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation
Located in Newark, Delaware, University of Delaware Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation sponsors 21 varsity sports and three spirit teams. Aiming to achieve excellence together, the department boasts a storied history of 529 All-Americans, 138 conference titles, and 10 national championships. Currently competing in the Coastal Athletic Association, the department will transition to FBS football and become a full-time member of Conference USA, while also adding women’s ice hockey as the 22nd varsity sport – both effective July 1, 2025.
About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.