Sept. 23, 2010
WACO, Texas - With its corporate sponsorships at an all-time high, Baylor Athletics has signed a new agreement with ISP Sports that extends the Bears' relationship with the nation's premier intercollegiate sports marketing company through June 2020. The new contract replaces the original deal signed between the parties in 2005.
"We are proud of our partnership with ISP Sports, and deeply appreciate the work that has been done by (ISP President) Ben Sutton and his staff, as well as the efforts of our on-campus team led by (General Manager) Doug McNamee," said Baylor Director of Athletics Ian McCaw. "Over the last five years, we have seen significant growth in support from our corporate partners which has made a positive impact on all of our programs, and I look for that to continue as our teams enjoy future success."
ISP will continue to manage all of Baylor's corporate marketing assets associated with its 19-sport intercollegiate athletics program, including the Baylor ISP Sports Radio Network, print advertising in various athletic department publications, signage in university athletic venues and advertising components of the school's official athletics website (BaylorBears.com).
In the first five years of the Baylor-ISP partnership, the department's corporate sponsorship revenues have increased by more than $1 million, and exceed their revenues goals over the past three years.
"We are very excited to extend our partnership with a great university and an athletic program that continues to make tremendous strides behind the leadership of Ian McCaw," said Ben Sutton, Chairman and CEO of ISP Sports. "We are both humbled and honored with the confidence in ISP that Baylor has expressed with this new long term agreement."
The management of all Baylor Athletics corporate sponsorships and marketing ventures is led by Doug McNamee, a 2003 Baylor graduate. McNamee, an original member of ISP's original Waco staff, has served as the property's general manager the past two years and is assisted by a trio of Baylor graduates in Matt Iazzetti, Mitch Mann and John Morris.
In July, ISP Sports announced that it would be acquired by IMG Worldwide, pending regulatory approval. "This move will provide our client institutions the opportunity to expand new revenue growth platforms as they seek new and incremental funding sources to build and sustain competitive athletic programs, as well as to help fund the increasing costs of their educational programs," said Sutton.
IMG currently represents more than 20 universities, conferences and associations, including the NCAA, Southeastern Conference, the University of Texas, University of Tennessee, University of Nebraska, University of Michigan and the University of Kentucky.
"We are delighted for Ben and his team to have this opportunity to combine with IMG," McCaw said. "This acquisition will create an even stronger team and should open more doors to potential national sponsors interested in college sports marketing."
ISP is the sales and marketing partner for more than 60 universities, conferences, bowl games and venues across the country, making it a major player in collegiate athletics marketing in America. Its list of clients includes such prominent collegiate athletic programs as Arizona State, Duke, Georgia, Syracuse and Wake Forest (see ISPSports.com for a complete listing). The company was founded in 1992 in Winston-Salem, N.C., which is still home for its corporate headquarters.
