The IMG agency’s college sport division, IMG College, has announced a wide-ranging 12-year commercial agreement with West Virginia University in the US.
The agreement is designed to bring new national and corporate support and brand recognition to the university’s athletic program. It is effective with the 2013-14 academic year and is guaranteed to pay to WVU more than $80m (€61.5m) throughout its term, plus revenue-sharing opportunities over the length of the partnership.
The agreement includes corporate sponsorships; stadium and venue signage including scoreboards and ribbon boards; and advertising in university-owned and leased athletic facilities.
WVU retains some existing sponsorships with corporate entities such as athletic apparel and footwear, health care, financial services and pouring rights.
West Virginia is one of last major schools to handle multimedia and sponsorship sales in house. WVU joins several other Big 12 Conference schools which have partnerships with IMG College, including Baylor, Kansas, TCU and Texas.