UM hands over more marketing responsibility to Learfield
The University of Montana further advanced its relationship with Learfield Sports by signing a nine-year deal that gives Learfield the responsibility of overseeing "all sponsorship and multimedia rights for UM athletics, including coaches' television shows, certain televised events, corporate hospitality, print sponsorships and athletic event marketing."
Last year, Montana signed a deal with Learfield giving them the task of selling advertisements inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Now, they've been given a lot more.
According to yesterday's Missoulian, this will be much more of a local operation than it appears on first glance:
Effective marketing could have an enormous impact on this program. I could name numerous marketing tactics I wish this school employed: a legitimate student fan club, Midnight Madness for basketball, a real spring football game and a beer garden for hoops to name a few. I understand resources are thin but a little money spent well not only excites fans, but also opens up new revenue streams.
The University of Montana sits at the top its conference and is one of the most respected schools on its level. We shouldn't sit comfortably under this artificial ceiling. The hoops team is desperately in need of some sense of legitimacy while the football program's success at the FCS level could be further boasted. There are passionate Griz fans spread out from coast to coast. I hope Learfield can stir up this intense fan base both on-campus and off while also giving outsiders a glimpse at something special.
Last year, Montana signed a deal with Learfield giving them the task of selling advertisements inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Now, they've been given a lot more.
According to yesterday's Missoulian, this will be much more of a local operation than it appears on first glance:
Work will be done locally by Learfield’s Grizzly Sports Properties, an organization that collaborates daily with UM athletic director Jim O’Day and the entire athletics administration.For more information on exactly what services Learfield provides, take a look at their web page. I'm not sure Learfield will provide UM with the same range of services it gives to other schools but here are the services they say they provide as far as marketing:
Leading the GSP sales staff will be Gene Peterson, a longtime Missoula resident with years of radio management experience; Dan Ingram, former assistant director of the Grizzly Scholarship Association; and Todd Howell.
It will be interesting to see the impact and presence Learfield will have and also how they will function along with UM's own marketing department.
- Game sponsorships, including signage, print, video and public address recognition, tickets and hospitality
- Pregame, half-time, timeout and postgame on-court/field promotions
- Corporate recognition and game ball presentations
- Title sponsorships
- Presenting sponsorships
- Interactive games
- Premium giveaways
- Hospitality villages
- Game day signage at "Olympic" sporting events
- Product displays
- Temporary signage
- Sampling, couponing and free product distribution
Effective marketing could have an enormous impact on this program. I could name numerous marketing tactics I wish this school employed: a legitimate student fan club, Midnight Madness for basketball, a real spring football game and a beer garden for hoops to name a few. I understand resources are thin but a little money spent well not only excites fans, but also opens up new revenue streams.
The University of Montana sits at the top its conference and is one of the most respected schools on its level. We shouldn't sit comfortably under this artificial ceiling. The hoops team is desperately in need of some sense of legitimacy while the football program's success at the FCS level could be further boasted. There are passionate Griz fans spread out from coast to coast. I hope Learfield can stir up this intense fan base both on-campus and off while also giving outsiders a glimpse at something special.
