ASU athletics announces 10-year, $16 million contract with Learfield
by April 7, 2016 3:25 pm 498 views
Arkansas State Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir has announced that Learfield Sports is the Red Wolves’ exclusive multimedia rights holder for the next 10 years, replacing GameDay Sports.
The $16 million agreement with Learfield, a Plano, Texas-based company owned by private equity firm Providence Equity, will run through 2027, Arkansas State University Sports Information Director Jerry Scott said. Scott said the new contract with Learfield follows the expiring contract with GameDay Sports.
Beginning immediately, Learfield will establish a local Red Wolves Sports Properties staff to work with Mohajir and the athletics administration. Learfield’s property staff will manage all aspects of the Red Wolves’ comprehensive rights moving forward, including signage, digital, corporate sponsorships, television and radio play-by-play, and coaches’ shows.
Scott said two to four people will work with the properties team. The agreement drew support from Mohajir.
“We are glad to partner with Learfield, one of the industry leaders, and excited about this monumental agreement for our emerging athletics department,” Mohajir said. “This new partnership will allow us to generate unprecedented revenue for our program. I’m excited to show our new partner the passion our corporate community has for the Red Wolves.”
Learfield has worked in college sports for over 40 years, representing 124 college properties nationwide. The relationship with ASU marks a first for Learfield within Arkansas, while the company holds individual rights agreements with numerous high-profile NCAA Division I programs and 22 of its collegiate partners are located in the six states that border Arkansas. The company has contracts with the Big 10 Conference as well as Alabama, Boise State, Clemson, Louisville, Memphis, Miami (Fla.), Missouri, Stanford, SMU and Wisconsin, the company’s website noted.
“Without a doubt, Terry and his team have done an outstanding job raising the profile of the Red Wolves and creating a memorable environment for student-athletes,” said Learfield President and CEO Greg Brown. “We’re humbled for the opportunity to work with A-State and look forward to entering the great state of Arkansas for the first time and getting our team set up as soon as possible to begin building relationships with current and potential partners.”
The company manages the multimedia and sponsorship rights for more than 120 collegiate institutions, conferences and arenas, in addition to supporting athletic departments at all competitive levels as title sponsor of the Learfield Directors’ Cup.