Western Illinois University Seeks Sports Marketing Agency

Western Illinois University’s (WIU) Macomb, IL campus is soliciting an experienced stable sports promotions company with a proven record of success to generate for the University’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics a comprehensive local, regional and national promotion plan and enhanced revenue through media, internet rights, and promotion exposure.

Background:

Intercollegiate Athletics is one of the most visible and accessible departments of Western Illinois University, distributing information through the internet, radio and television broadcasts of live events, web streaming, radio and television promotional shows, and a variety  of publications.  WIU is also the economic engine of Western Illinois. WIU has a high concentration of alumni in the Chicago, Springfield, Quad Cities, Quincy, Peoria, and St Louis areas. WIU offers 19 varsity sports and are known as the “Leathernecks” which is a highly recognized and visible brand because of the national success of the Leatherneck athletic department.

Leatherneck football competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, which is a premiere conference where five of the last six national champions have competed. The Leatherneck Women’s Basketball team advanced in the WBI post season tournament and recorded a win against in-state rival Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. The Leatherneck Women’s Basketball team is 7-0 against in-state opponents this year and is 12-1 over the past two seasons.  The women’s basketball program is coming off a regular season and Summit League Tournament championship, culminating with a NCAA Tournament appearance.  The Leatherneck men’s soccer coach is the all-time winningest men’s soccer coach in Summit League history, having the men’s soccer program appear six times to the NCAA Division I College cup, 4 conference titles, and 6 conference tournament titles.  Baseball and Softball continue to be ranked high in the Summit League and continue to build on the Leatherneck tradition of success.

Leatherneck Athletics is committed to academic success.  Of the Leatherneck student-athletes, 61 percent earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and 28 percent of the athletes received semester honors as they earned a GPA of 3.6 or better.   There were 62 student-athletes from the 20 represented programs that boasted a perfect 4.0 GPA during the fall/spring semesters.  In addition to their academic success, the student-athletes completed over 7,218 hours of community service and raised $10,377 for special needs organizations.

WIU wishes to capitalize on the growing successes of its athletic teams by establishing a long-term working partnership/relationship with a proposer that will maximize the promotions of Intercollegiate Athletics – “Leathernecks” statewide, in West Central Illinois, Eastern Iowa, Chicago, St. Louis, Central Illinois area and nationally.  The promotional growth should reach businesses, alumni, and fans in these areas, which will encourage support and participation by everyone.  The proposer will work with WIU to meet these goals.

Scope of Work:

The proposer will have the exclusive right to seek and negotiate agreements for securing sponsorships, endorsements, promotions and advertising for all At-Event Impact opportunities for all Intercollegiate Athletics sports in all venues to include, but not limited to, the following:

Product Display

• Sampling, Couponing, Product & Premium Product Distribution.  The successful proposer will be responsible for the procurement of all premium items produced through all secured sponsorships.
• Title and Presenting Sponsorships of home athletic events only
• Pre-game, In-game, Post-game promotions, contests, corporate recognition/presentation and giveaways
• Mascot and cheerleader appearances
• Interactive Promotion Area
• o   Subject to University prior approval
• o   Kids Club Sponsorships as presented by proposer with approval by WIU.
• o   Special events as presented by proposer with approval by WIU

Proposal due on May 9, 2017 to:

227 Sherman Hall
1 University Circle
Macomb, IL 61455

Strong sports PR firms include Coyne PR & Taylor PR.