College Basketball Crown
College Basketball Crown Award
The Story
When the inaugural 2025 College Basketball Crown tournament launched in Las Vegas, organizers from AEG and FOX Sports needed something unprecedented: the first-ever "wearable award" in college basketball history. Hosted at T-Mobile Arena from March 31 to April 6, this groundbreaking tournament brought together 16 elite teams in a new postseason format that challenged traditional college basketball conventions. The award-winning marketing agency rEvolution approached Bennett Awards with a bold vision that would require innovation beyond typical trophy design, creating recognition that champions could literally wear as part of their victory celebration.
The Design
Bennett Awards created an extraordinary crown that draws direct inspiration from both the tournament's logo and the iconic grooves of a basketball. The award features high-polished gold-plated aluminum meticulously crafted to mirror the unmistakable seams of a basketball, transforming the sport's most recognizable pattern into wearable championship recognition. The crown sits elegantly on a custom black walnut base featuring a routed channel that allows the crown to be securely displayed while being easily removed for players to wear during celebrations and media appearances.
The Craftsmanship
The crown was precision-crafted from high-polished gold-plated aluminum, with the sleek finish expertly executed by local vendors near Bennett Awards' design studio to ensure meticulous attention to detail. The custom black walnut base was handcrafted by local woodworker Mac Rice, featuring a perfectly routed channel that balances both secure display and easy removal functionality. Laser-engraved details on the base complement the metallic crown finish, creating seamless integration between traditional woodworking and modern metalwork that reflects both heritage and innovation in college basketball.
The Impact
The championship game drew an impressive 822,000 viewers on FOX Sports, making it the most-watched non-NCAA Tournament college basketball final of the year, with the wearable crown becoming an instant symbol of victory when the University of Nebraska defeated the University of Central Florida 77-66. The unique design generated significant media attention and social engagement, transforming the trophy presentation into a memorable spectacle that differentiated the College Basketball Crown from every other postseason tournament. The award became the centerpiece of a historic $500,000 NIL initiative for participating teams, proving how innovative recognition can elevate entire sporting events while creating lasting memories for student-athletes and fans worldwide.