West Virginia University Athletics is stepping into a new era of uniform sponsorship, and it’s doing so with a home-state company that knows the Mountaineer brand well.
WVU, working with Learfield’s Mountaineer Sports Properties, has announced a five-year jersey patch partnership with Antero Resources that begins with the 2026 athletic campaign. The deal puts Antero’s logo on the home and away jerseys for all 18 WVU varsity sports and makes it the first uniform sponsorship patch in school history.
For Wren Baker, the move carries obvious weight.
" This is an historic day for West Virginia Athletics, and I am grateful that Antero is part of the Mountaineer family," Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said. "More than 500 Mountaineer student-athletes proudly wear the West Virginia jersey, competing and representing the University and the state in front of millions each week on the national stage. Now, Antero shares that jersey with us and will play a key role in our future success.
"As the state's flagship, land-grant institution, WVU plays a vital and dynamic role in the overall economic success, growth and well-being of the state," Baker added. "Antero has been a partner of ours that cares, as it supplies energy on a daily basis to improve health, safety and the livelihood of millions. The Mountaineers look forward to being a part of this special bond with Antero."
Antero Resources, based in West Virginia, is one of the largest producers of natural gas and natural gas liquids in the country. The company operates as an independent oil and gas business in the Appalachian Basin, where it acquires, explores, develops and produces natural gas, natural gas liquids and oil. Its work in West Virginia remains a central part of its identity, and the company says the new jersey patch reflects that connection.
"We are excited to be sewn into the fabric of Mountaineer Athletics," said Antero Resources and Antero Midstream President and CEO Michael Kennedy. "It is a demonstration that West Virginia is an energy state and a demonstration of Antero's commitment to West Virginia. We know it will be a point of pride for all of the Antero family - our employees, our contractors, our mineral owners - when they see Antero on these jerseys."
The patch itself will be built for visibility, with different WVU colorways to match home and away uniforms across sports. Beyond the jerseys, the partnership includes digital and social media activation around the patch, along with new chances for West Virginia student-athletes to take part in brand storytelling campaigns.
Learfield says the deal brings together two major West Virginia brands and adds meaningful value for the athletic department and its fan base.
"It is exciting to bring together two powerful brands in West Virginia to make a statement and drive significant value for Mountaineer Athletics, their student-athletes and fans nationwide," said Andrew Wheeler, Executive Vice President, Learfield. "Wren's vision and leadership continue to make a powerful impact on West Virginia Athletics, and we are proud to partner with him and his team on this next-level sponsorship."
The Mountaineer brand gives the sponsorship a big stage. WVU noted that the Flying WV logo is known worldwide, and its teams compete nationally through Big 12 Conference media partners that include the ESPN Family of Networks, ABC, Fox, TNT, CBS and Peacock/NBC. More than 70 WVU sports events are streamed each year on ESPN+.
The Antero logo will first appear on a West Virginia jersey during women’s soccer’s season opener on Thursday, Aug. 13 against Dayton.
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