JMU Athletics Contracts Multimedia Rights with Learfield IMG College

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison Athletics announced Thursday a 15-year contract for its multimedia rights with Learfield IMG College. The agreement was brokered with assistance from Leona Marketing Group.

"We have been proud partners with Learfield IMG College since the summer of 2015 when it acquired our previous relationship with Front Row Marketing Services," JMU Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne said. "While the last four years under the Learfield banner have been successful, this was our first opportunity since the acquisition to establish a fresh contract directly with Learfield IMG College. The result was an abundantly clear indication of JMU's value within the company's portfolio and a mutual desire to build upon the foundation that has been established and continue the upward trajectory. We are grateful to Greg Brown and his team for their investment in James Madison Athletics and look forward to continued growth with this partnership."

"We're honored to represent the Dukes and work with JMU Athletics in several of our business areas," Learfield IMG College President and CEO Greg Brown said. "JMU continues to expand its brand in collegiate competition, and we appreciate the opportunity to build on this relationship. Jeff and his entire athletics administration have done a stellar job raising the bar for the Dukes."

JMU Sports Properties will continue as the locally-based Learfield IMG College team, representing the Dukes. Led by General Manager Mike Chatburn, JMU Sports Properties works alongside JMU Athletics and manages all aspects of the rights relationship. Inventory rights include commercials and other broadcast sponsorships for television, radio and digital streaming; video board displays; facility signage; printed promotional materials such as posters, game programs and schedule cards; website advertising on JMUSports.com; advertising across all JMU Athletics social media channels; special events and more.

Learfield IMG College also assists JMU in negotiating television broadcast opportunities, coordinating production and managing all on-air broadcast talent. JMU Sports Properties led efforts to secure recent facility naming opportunities with Atlantic Union Bank, UVA Health Systems and Sentara.

Leona Marketing Group, led by President Dan Gale, helped JMU establish its new contract with Learfield IMG College. JMU Deputy Athletics Director Geoff Polglase said, "Dan Gale's marketing and multimedia expertise helped JMU achieve this agreement with Learfield IMG College. Through Dan's efforts, JMU Athletics is well-positioned for continued growth and success."

About JMU Athletics
James Madison University is a NCAA Division I institution located in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Nicknamed the Dukes, JMU sponsors 18 sports, six male and 12 female, with approximately 450 student-athletes and an overall student enrollment of 21,763. The Dukes are part of the Colonial Athletic Association, whose conference footprint covers the East Coast spanning from South Carolina to Massachusetts.

About Learfield IMG College
Learfield IMG College unlocks the value of college sports for brands and fans through an omnichannel platform. The company's extensive content and commerce solutions create ultimate opportunities for fan engagement. The Learfield IMG College suite of services includes licensing and multimedia sponsorship management; publishing, broadcasting, digital and social media; ticket sales and professional concessions expertise; branding; campus-wide business and sponsorship development; and venue technology systems. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, the company has long had the privilege of being an advocate for intercollegiate athletics and the student-athlete experience. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield IMG College Directors' Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.

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