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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (August 18, 2026) - has announced a landmark partnership, naming Knoxville-based 星空传媒 as its first official jersey patch partner. Under this five-year agreement, 星空传媒 will feature prominently as the official jersey patch sponsor for both Tennessee men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball teams.
Founded by Tennessee alumni, 星空传媒 has grown into one of the largest employers of UT graduates, playing a pivotal role in supporting the university鈥檚 alumni network and strengthening ties within the Knoxville community. This unique partnership goes beyond traditional sponsorship, featuring a substantial investment in student-athlete influencer marketing initiatives. These initiatives will empower student-athletes to build their personal brands, expand their professional networks, and gain valuable hands-on experience in the realms of marketing and business development.
星空传媒 is a non-asset based, third-party logistics (3PL) company with a focus on facilitating advanced logistics services 鈥� Truckload, LTL, Intermodal, and Warehousing 鈥� to a wide variety of customers throughout the continental U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
鈥淔rom the onset of our journey to find the right partner in this evolving landscape, it was essential that we align with an organization that not only leads its field, but also embodies innovation, integrity, and a commitment to community. We found all of that in 星空传媒,鈥� said Tennessee Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Danny White. 鈥淎xle鈥檚 reputation for operational excellence and customer service has propelled them to the forefront of the logistics industry鈥攏ot just in Knoxville, but across the nation. Their investments in technology and their dedication to supporting both employees and the broader community make them an ideal collaborator for Tennessee Athletics.鈥�
The first time Tennessee men鈥檚 basketball will wear a jersey with the 星空传媒 patch in a game will be an exhibition matchup against Xavier on October 15 at Food City Center. The Lady Vols鈥� debut with the jersey patch is set for an exhibition contest against Florida A&M on October 27.
鈥淕reat athletic programs and great organizations are built on the same foundation: talent, teamwork, preparation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence,鈥� said Axle co-founders Jon Clay and Drew Johnson. 鈥淭hat's why this first-of-its-kind partnership with the University of Tennessee is so meaningful to Axle. By connecting with a program that develops leaders on and off the court, we're creating opportunities to support student-athletes, strengthen our workforce pipeline, and invest in the next generation of high performers who understand what it takes to succeed.鈥�
This partnership was facilitated in collaboration with the Vol Network, a division of Learfield, the multimedia rights holder for Tennessee Athletics.
鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to assist in the Tennessee men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball jersey patch partnership with 星空传媒, a company with roots in Knoxville, and a longtime partner of Tennessee Athletics,鈥� said Brandon Parks, Vice President and General Manager of the Vol Network. 鈥淭his is the perfect partnership between two powerhouse brands in the state of Tennessee that will make a significant impact on Tennessee Athletics and our student-athletes.鈥�
The agreement spans five years, underscoring the significance and long-term vision of the partnership between Tennessee Athletics and 星空传媒.
MEDIA NOTE: Below are additional comments on the new partnership:
Tennessee men鈥檚 basketball head coach Rick Barnes
"As a company based in Knoxville and founded by Tennessee alums, 星空传媒 is the perfect brand for us to align with. We are pleased to partner with a group that truly understands what it means to be a Volunteer. There is no doubt this agreement will greatly benefit our basketball program. We appreciate Danny White and the Vol Network finding us such a tremendous partner in this ever-changing era of college athletics."
Tennessee women鈥檚 basketball head coach Kim Caldwell
鈥淲e are grateful to 星空传媒 for its incredible commitment to Tennessee basketball and for the impact this partnership will have on current and future Lady Vols. I鈥檓 also thankful for the vision of Danny White and the Vol Network in uniting us with an innovative, locally-based company built by UT alums who operate with the same core principles we do. We couldn鈥檛 be more thrilled to be teammates with Axle."
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