Pitt Partners With Howard Hanna as Official Realtor of Pitt Athletics

PITTSBURGH — Pitt Athletics and JMI Sports are proud to announce a multi-year partnership with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. Howard Hanna has been named “the Official Realtor of Pitt Athletics” and the presenting sponsor of various custom platforms, including the Pitt Football Junior Captain program.

Kicking off this football season, Howard Hanna will be the presenting sponsor of Pitt Football’s Junior Captain program, in support of Howard Hanna Children’s Free Care Fund, and will sponsor first downs, which includes a donation to the Pitt Student-Athlete Success Fund for every first down secured by the Panthers at home games this fall. The partnership also includes branding of the home team tunnel at Heinz Field, presenting sponsorship of the Pitt vs. Virginia game on November 20 and an enter-to-win “Bring the Game Home” social media promotion.

“This partnership will highlight Howard Hanna’s commitment to the Pitt Panthers and bring awareness to the company’s services and community initiatives,” said Laila Brock, Vice President of Sponsorship Sales & Operations for Pitt Sports Marketing. “We are very excited have them join our roster of Official Partners.”

Howard Hanna will receive custom activation opportunities through the winter with unique features at Pitt basketball games including the Howard Hanna Core Service Employee of the Month recognition, and the “Upgrade Your Real Estate” promotion, through which Panther fans will have a chance to win a VIP experience at the Petersen Events Center, including a private club level table at select Pitt men’s basketball games.

“For generations, the Hanna family and Pitt have had a very strong relationship and we are thrilled to finally make it official through our new partnership,” said F. Duffy Hanna, President of Howard Hanna Financial Services, and a University of Pittsburgh alumnus. “From 1957 when the first Howard Hanna office opened in Oakland to the beginning of our partnership in the 2021-2022 season, we are proud to be affiliated with the university.”

Howard Hanna is the number one privately owned broker in the nation and the largest home seller in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York, as well as in the Carolinas and Indiana through our strategic partnerships with Allen Tate Realtors and The F.C. Tucker Company, respectively. The Howard Hanna family’s long-standing support of the University of Pittsburgh, including its commitment to providing two need-based endowed scholarship funds for graduate and undergraduate business students, will be further enhanced through its partnership with Pitt Athletics.

“As a proud Law School alum, we are so excited to support and share in the energy of the greater Pitt community and of Pitt Athletics,” said Annie Hanna Engel, Chief Legal Officer, Hanna Holdings, Inc. and President, Howard Hanna Insurance Services. “From our family to the extensive Pitt family network – we are proud to support the home team of our hometown.”

“Howard Hanna is deeply rooted and respected in Pittsburgh and its long-standing commitment to the University of Pittsburgh is well recognized,” said Heather Lyke, Director of Athletics. “Extending that partnership to Athletics is a tremendous opportunity to work together to benefit the children in our communities and work towards our goal of comprehensive excellence.” 

About Howard Hanna
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services is the #1 family-owned and -operated broker in the U.S.A. The full-service real estate company has more than 400 real estate, mortgage, insurance, title, and escrow service offices across 11 states, including Allen Tate Realtors in the Carolinas and The F.C. Tucker Company in Indiana, with more than 13,000 sales associates and staff, including many of the industry’s top-producing real estate agents. For more information, visit www.HowardHanna.com.

About Pitt Athletics
The University of Pittsburgh’s intercollegiate athletics history dates back to 1869, when the university began to field a baseball team. Today, Pitt sponsors 19 varsity sports—nine men’s teams and 10 women’s programs—with more than 475 student-athletes vying for conference, regional and national honors. All varsity sports teams compete as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), with the exception of gymnastics, which competes in the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL). The Panthers’ rich athletics history includes national championships in football (nine) and basketball (two). Pitt also boasts Olympic gold-medal performances in track, and silver and bronze medals in diving and basketball.

About JMI Sports
JMI Sports is a leading media rights and venue development company providing management of collegiate multimedia rights, sponsorship sales agency representation, and highly regarded project management expertise to the development of collegiate and professional sports facilities. The company serves to maximize each client’s economic potential through customized initiatives, from marketing and branding solutions to facility design strategies that bring each client’s vision to fruition. JMI Sports manages an impressive list of signature collegiate multimedia rights partnerships including, the University of Kentucky, Clemson University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, Harvard University, DePaul University and joint-venture properties of the University of Georgia and Columbia University (with LEARFIELD), and University of Notre Dame (with Legends). JMI Sports also represents several high-profile conferences including the Ivy League, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Southern Conference, the Patriot League, and the Atlantic 10 Conference. Additionally, JMI Sports serves as third- party sales representation for premier venues and events including the Breeders’ Cup, Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center and the Penn Relays. The company’s facility development team is currently collaborating with Legends on the new Aztec Stadium and Mission Valley development for San Diego State University in San Diego, CA. Celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2021, JMI Sports was founded by CEO Erik Judson and technology entrepreneur John Moores, former owner of the San Diego Padres.