COLUMBIA, Mo. (Aug. 30, 2018) – University of Missouri Director of Athletics Jim Sterk welcomed MU students back to campus by highlighting a number of recent accomplishments that point to a bright future for the Tiger program, including record-setting fund raising, stadium and facility improvements and an extension of its multi-media rights agreement.
"We have a great deal of momentum right now," said Sterk. "Chancellor Cartwright recently announced that freshmen enrollment jumped 13% this year and we recorded the highest retention rate ever. In athletics, not only have we embarked on important facility improvements, like the South End Zone project, but we also tied our best finish ever in the Learfield Directors' Cup, ranked 33rd nationally."
Mizzou Athletics has agreed to extend its long-term relationship with Learfield as the Tigers' exclusive multimedia rights holder effective July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2029. At the completion of the renewed agreement, Learfield and the University will have been aligned as partners for nearly 55 years, as the company began as Mizzou Athletics radio rights distributor in 1975. Mizzou Sports Properties, Learfield's locally based team solely dedicated to representing the Tigers, is led by General Manager Nick Garner. Mizzou Sports Properties manages all components of the comprehensive rights agreement, including sponsorship sales, radio broadcasts and other marketing responsibilities. As part of the extended relationship, Learfield will be responsible for selling newly created sponsorship elements, including those within the Memorial Stadium South End Zone project.
"This new agreement with Learfield will build upon the long-standing relationship we have had with the company and allow us to take advantage of the new opportunities being created in the marketplace, particularly with the South End Zone facility coming on-line at Memorial Stadium in 2019," Sterk said. "As we begin a new year of competition, I'm particularly pleased that we will be realizing more resources to further support the academic and athletic experiences for our student athletes."
ABOUT LEARFIELD
An industry leader for more than four decades, Learfield, which was founded in Jefferson City, Missouri, has a deep presence in the college athletics landscape nationwide. In addition to Mizzou, the company manages the multimedia rights and sponsorship initiatives for nearly 130 collegiate institutions, conferences and arenas nationwide, providing these partners access to professional concessions and ticket sales; branding, licensing and trademark consulting; digital and social platform expertise; campuswide business and sponsorship development; and venue and technology systems through its affiliated companies.