Rutgers Athletics has a new partner with the same home address as the university itself: New Jersey.
The university announced Thursday that Valley National Bank has signed a three-year agreement to become an official partner of Rutgers Athletics.
The deal, which was secured by Scarlet Knight Enterprises, the athletic department’s new commercial arm, means the largest bank headquartered in the state will have increased visibility at football and men’s basketball games, including signage and a videoboard feature spotlighting a different local small business at home games.
And it starts tonight, when Rutgers opens its football season against UMass.
The agreement, however, is more than that. It represents a vision and mission that Rutgers has long desired — deep relationships with the state’s most important companies and organizations.
Scarlet Knight Enterprises’ CEO Fred Mangione, who said as much in a recent feature in BINJE, noted that mission Thursday. https://binje.com/sectors/education/rutgers-has-hired-a-pro-sports-guy-to-run-rutgers-like-a-pro-sports-organization/
“We’re proud to partner with an institution that shares deep New Jersey roots,” he said. “This partnership brings together two local brands that understand the importance of investing in the people and places that make our state special.”
Curt Lang, Valley’s chief banking officer for New Jersey, agreed.
“As the largest bank headquartered in New Jersey, we are proud to partner with the state’s largest university and an institution that plays such an important role in the communities we serve,” he said. “For nearly 100 years, Valley has been deeply committed to supporting New Jersey’s businesses, consumers, and communities.”
The math behind the deal is as much about reach as roots.
Valley gets access to hundreds of thousands of fans who pass through Rutgers venues each year, a New Jersey alumni base topping 383,000, and Big Ten television exposure the conference says reaches more than 45 million households nationwide.
Lang is eager for Valley to reach them. He says the relationship underscores Valley’s commitment to investing in the institutions, businesses and communities that make New Jersey a place to live, work and build for the future. https://binje.com/sectors/finance/valley-bank-pledges-1m-to-fuel-new-jersey-neighborhood-revitalization-projects/
“We want small and middle market businesses, nonprofits, and consumers across New Jersey to know that they have a financial partner with deep local roots, a strong understanding of the market, and the expertise and resources to help them navigate what’s next,” he said. “As a relationship-driven bank, we believe banking is about more than financial products. It’s about understanding people, businesses, and organizations and being there to help them achieve their goals.”
Collyn Gilbert, Valley’s executive vice president and chief strategy and marketing officer, called the deal a continuation of the bank’s brand push earlier this year, saying it “gives us the opportunity to connect with thousands of Rutgers students, alumni, fans, and families while supporting the university’s athletic programs and celebrating the pride and spirit that brings New Jerseyans together.”
This is exactly what Mangione wants to hear — again and again.
He said the deal with Valley Bank is the kind of deal he envisioned when took the job this summer.
Scarlet Knight Enterprises is not only a dedicated corporate entity created to support the business functions of Rutgers Athletics, leading multimedia rights, corporate partnerships, ticketing strategy, premium hospitality and NIL initiatives — it is one that aims to modernize Rutgers’ approach to the evolving collegiate athletics landscape. https://binje.com/sectors/education/10-ways-the-new-head-of-scarlet-knight-enterprises-is-attacking-the-job/
Mangione, fresh off a stint as the head of sponsorships and partnerships with the NYNJ Host Committee for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, said his mandate is bringing a pro-sports playbook to Rutgers’ commercial operation — one built on identifying brands with a real stake in New Jersey rather than just the biggest available check.
Connecting with Valley, which was founded in 1927 and headquartered in the state, is proof Rutgers can connect with New Jersey brands. And do so in a relationship that may help the school keep more homegrown student-athletes around.
