East Wake Times

The North Carolina Football Club has announced a partnership with Jump, a unified fan experience platform designed specifically for professional sports teams. This collaboration marks the Courage and NCFC as the first direct-to-consumer professional sports teams, allowing them to control their fan interactions entirely.

The platform will serve as the club's system for fan engagement, covering ticketing, sales, and mobile app integration. Ralph Vuono, COO of North Carolina Football Club, emphasized the innovative nature of this move: “Innovation is in our organization’s DNA and something we strive for when thinking about our relationship with our fans,” he said. Vuono highlighted that the partnership would allow fans to purchase tickets and merchandise without additional fees.

Jump's software eliminates ticketing fees, which is unprecedented in live sports. The company aims to empower clubs by enabling them to manage their relationships with fans directly. "We’re thrilled to partner with the North Carolina Football Club as Jump’s first professional sports team partner," said Jordy Leiser, CEO and co-founder of Jump. He noted that this marks a shift in how pro sports teams engage with fans.

Jump was developed in collaboration with executives from over 70 professional sports teams across various leagues. Its goal is to provide clubs like Courage and NCFC with tools to offer personalized experiences that enhance fan engagement and customer value.

North Carolina Courage has been competing since 2017 after Steve Malik purchased and relocated the Western New York Flash franchise. They have claimed multiple league trophies in NWSL history. Meanwhile, North Carolina FC has been active since 2006 under different names and ownerships.

Jump was founded in 2021 by Marc Lore, Alex Rodriguez, and Jordy Leiser. It has raised $35 million from venture firms such as Forerunner Ventures and Courtside Ventures.