Notre Dame, IN, October 6, 2026 — In their 29th year of partnership, Notre Dame Athletics and Meijer are celebrating an expanded relationship as Meijer is becoming Notre Dame Athletics' newest Championship Partner. A long-term extension and enhanced collaboration that started this fall allows the iconic midwest retailer to continue to be featured on Notre Dame Football coaches’ headsets, further impact hunger relief in the community, and increase brand visibility.
“Notre Dame Athletics and Meijer share a long-standing partnership built on common values, and we couldn’t be more excited to elevate this relationship to a new level,” shared Deputy Athletics Director, Jim Fraleigh. “Meijer has consistently shown up for our program, our Fighting Irish fans, and the broader South Bend community—a commitment that represents a true generational investment. At our core, both Notre Dame and Meijer are all about community, and we are deeply grateful for their continued dedication as we step into this next chapter together.
A range of year-round community-impact and family-focused events will continue under the extended partnership. Noteworthy highlights include: Meijer’s initiative to fight hunger with their long-standing Simply Give program, which assists local food pantries year-round; beginning a new initiative with the men's and women's basketball teams and on-court shot success to benefit Hunger Relief efforts; and continuing to sponsor “Shop with a Notre Dame Football Player” during #GivingTuesday, where Meijer doubles the match of any Simply Give cards purchased. Meijer will remain an integral part of Notre Dame’s ongoing community outreach.
Meijer will continue to be present at home Notre Dame football games, creating friendly, family-fun tailgate zones. Meijer's visibility will be seen on the basketball pole pads at Purcell Pavilion and the dashboards at Compton Family Ice Arena, and through NIL initiatives. Rolling into the spring seasons, the Notre Dame Football Blue-Gold Game presented by Meijer will continue, setting the stage for various experiences and family memories with Notre Dame Athletics.
“Meijer and Notre Dame Athletics have shared a strong partnership for nearly three decades, built on a commitment to our communities and the people we serve," said Melissa Conway, Director of Community Partnerships & Giving at Meijer. "We're excited to build on that foundation through an enhanced partnership that creates new opportunities to connect with the Notre Dame community, support meaningful community initiatives, and bring our longstanding relationship to life in more visible ways for Irish fans throughout the year.”
This partnership was facilitated by Notre Dame Global Partnerships, a joint venture between Legends and JMI Sports.
About Notre Dame Athletics - As it pertains to athletic and academic success, the University of Notre Dame has few peers across the nation. Sponsoring 26 varsity athletic programs, Notre Dame teams have won 40 national championships that span over 100 years of competitive excellence. The University’s first national title was earned by football in 1924, led by legendary head coach Knute Rockne. Notre Dame athletic teams have continued to claim noteworthy national championships recently, including back-to-back titles by men’s lacrosse in 2023 and 2024 and the fencing team earning its 16th team national title in 2026. The Fighting Irish football team also appeared in the 2025 College Football Playoff Championship Game. Notre Dame athletic teams have produced the third-most Academic All-Americans among Division I schools and Fighting Irish student-athletes have ranked first or second among Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the NCAA’s Graduation Success Rating for 19 straight years.
About Meijer - Meijer is a privately owned, family-operated retailer that serves customers at more than 500 supercenters, grocery stores, neighborhood markets, and express locations throughout the Midwest. As the pioneer of the one-stop shopping concept, more than 70,000 Meijer team members work hard to deliver a friendly, seamless in-store and online shopping experience featuring an assortment of fresh foods, high-quality apparel, household essentials, and health and wellness products and services. Meijer is consistently recognized as a Great Place to Work and annually donates at least 6 percent of its profit to strengthen its communities. Additional information on the company can be found by visiting newsroom.meijer.com.
About Notre Dame Global Partnerships - Notre Dame Global Partnerships (NGDP) manages the sales, marketing, sponsorship, multimedia rights, and branding services for the University of Notre Dame’s Athletics programs. Founded in 2018, NDGP is a joint venture between JMI Sports and Legends, formed to build integrated partnerships with industry-leading partners that share the University’s commitment to both academic and athletic excellence. Notre Dame’s status as one of the most recognizable and iconic institutions in collegiate athletics offers brands a unique opportunity to connect with fans, students, and alumni globally. NDGP is creating new and innovative partnerships that contribute to the University’s mission while also upholding its storied history and tradition.