Significant Visibility for Hospital Across Athletics, University Areas via Learfield’s Campus+

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State and Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center come together for the first time, unveiling an integrated multi-year partnership as announced today by LBSU Athletics Director Andy Fee and Carolyn Caldwell, Hospital President.

A signature component of the partnership allows St. Mary to immediately be recognized as the “official health partner of Long Beach State Athletics” through the 2021-22 collegiate academic year. For the next five years, the medical and surgical hospital operated by Dignity Health will receive significant exposure overall through university athletics, as well as through select assets that cross over to the university. St. Mary will also have a community-driven connection, with the opportunity to host up to three on-campus events in conjunction with other university or athletics events.

Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center President and CEO Carolyn Caldwell shared, “Dignity Health values the importance of community partnerships and St. Mary Medical Center is very excited to align our mission with Long Beach State. Many of our employees are Beach alumni and Long Beach residents who join me in being proud to be the official Health Partner of Long Beach State Athletics.”

Notably, St. Mary Medical Center will be a designated game sponsor for the Beach three times each year of the partnership, inclusive of a men’s basketball and baseball game, as well as one men’s or women’s volleyball game. Other components of the athletics partnership include exposure for the Long Beach-based medical center through digital and print, as well as on the radio network. St. Mary also will receive significant visibility through signage at the following athletic venues: Walter Pyramid (home to Beach basketball, volleyball); Blair Field (baseball); George Allen Field (women’s soccer); LBSU Softball Complex; and Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center (water polo). Other highlights for St. Mary include serving as co-sponsor of the Kids Club, Kids Zone and the Student-Athlete Academic All-Star Event.

On behalf of Long Beach State Athletics, the integrated partnership with St. Mary Medical Center was navigated by Campus+, an extension of Learfield, which is the university’s athletics multimedia rightsholder. Learfield’s Campus+ is dedicated to driving deeper engagement for businesses among students, faculty, staff and alumni.

“We’re very excited to partner with Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center, one of the premier providers of health care in Southern California,” said Fee. “Our student-athletes, coaches and staff are appreciative to have the ability to have your physicians take care of our athletes in the most efficient way possible. Taking care of our student-athletes is always at the forefront of our minds. This partnership is the largest of its kind at Long Beach State and is another great step in that endeavor, which we think will be very long-lasting.”

As a complement to the athletics assets, St. Mary will have the distinct opportunity to be closely involved with several Long Beach State University aspects throughout the partnership term. Primarily, the hospital will sponsor the Employee Wellness Classes provided by the University Student Health Services. St. Mary also will have a presence at two Long Beach State Alumni events each year, including the awards banquet, and have the opportunity to participate in educational seminars to Long Beach State constituents.

“As we began working with the leadership of St. Mary Medical Center and Dignity Health, it became clear to us that there were valuable opportunities with Long Beach State that would be mutually beneficial and broader than a standard athletics corporate partnership,” said Learfield’s Campus+ Vice President, West Region Ben Lorenzen. “We set out to find those partnerships and synergies that are incredibly impactful for both parties across campus, and we’re excited about Long Beach State and St. Mary aligning.”

About Dignity Health-St. Mary Medical Center
Founded as a faith-based hospital in 1923 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center is a 389-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Long Beach, California. The hospital offers a full complement of services, including a Level II trauma center, cardiac and vascular center, surgical weight loss, maternity and the CARE Center, which is a recognized PrEP center of excellence. The hospital shares a legacy of humankindness with Dignity Health, one of the nation’s five largest health care systems. Visit dignityhealth.org/stmarymedical for more information.

About Long Beach State Athletics
Long Beach State participates in 19 varsity sports at the Division I level of NCAA collegiate athletics. Founded in 1949, “The Beach” began intercollegiate competition the next year, and has maintained uninterrupted status within Division I since that time. Long Beach State’s student-athletes compete at the highest level, graduate at high rates and many have gone on to play professionally both domestically and abroad. Additionally, in the last ten years, Long Beach State has won the Big West Commissioner’s Cup six times, awarded annually to the top athletics program in the conference.

About Campus + Learfield
The Campus+ division of Learfield is dedicated to developing comprehensive business partnerships specifically designed to align priority university initiatives with the corporate community. Building off Learfield’s existing athletics multimedia rights relationships, Campus+ will cultivate innovative, “best-in-class” university partnerships. Learfield, having a deep presence in the collegiate athletics landscape for more than 40 years, also provides its collegiate partners access to professional concessions and ticket sales; licensing and trademark consulting; digital and social platform expertise; and venue and technology systems through its affiliated companies.