UCA gains new revenue tool as other UAC teams with Waypoint

Central Arkansas is stepping into a new source of funding for its athletic department.

UCA is one of eight schools set to join the United Athletic Conference this July, and the timing lines up with a big money move at the top of the league.

Unisun Sports, the joint venture between the ASUN and the UAC, announced a partnership with Waypoint Network, Inc.

The deal comes just weeks before the group’s July 1, 2026 operational debut, and it’s built to hand each member school a shot at new, ongoing revenue.

“The future belongs to those willing to collectively innovate,” said Jeff Bacon, CEO of Unisun Sports. “Partnering with Waypoint allows our member institutions the opportunity to activate an engaging new revenue channel without asking departments to absorb any cost or risk. This is the kind of forward-thinking opportunity Unisun Sports was built to deliver.”

What the partnership actually offers

This isn’t just a handshake deal.

It makes Unisun Sports the first conference-level group in college sports to offer a branded fan travel portal, its own audience data tool called the Waypoint Fan Atlas and a structured NIL commerce plan, all built for every member school at once.

Here’s how it could work for Bears backers. Each school gets its own travel booking site, working much like the travel sites fans already use.

Alumni, students and staff can book hotels, rental homes, flights and trip activities anywhere in the world. Every time someone books, a piece of that sale heads back to the school.

“When you consider the hundreds of thousands of trips fans take each year — family vacations, road trips to away games, business travel — every booking through a school’s branded portal adds up,” said Matt Sanders, Co-Founder and President of Waypoint Network. “This platform lets fans become micro-donors simply by doing what they already do. The Unisun Sports model multiplies that effect across 17 schools simultaneously and gives the consortium a unique view into the combined fanbases of its member institutions.”

Why this matters for Bears sports today, down road

Right now, the deal gives Central Arkansas a no-cost way to test a new funding stream while the school gets settled into its new league.

There’s no upfront bill and no risk tied to the athletic budget.

Down the road, the bigger prize could be steady.

If Bears fans travel often for road trips or vacations, that flow of bookings could turn into a lasting cash source for UCA athletics, right as the school starts life under a brand-new eight-team conference.

Key takeaways

• Central Arkansas is one of eight schools joining the United Athletic Conference before the league’s July 1, 2026 launch under Unisun Sports.
• The new Waypoint Network partnership gives UCA a branded travel portal, fan data tool and NIL commerce plan with no upfront cost to the athletic department.
• Every fan or alumni booking made through the portal sends a share of revenue back to Central Arkansas, creating a potential long-term funding source for Bears athletics.