Rights Relationship Marks First-of-its-Kind for University of Louisiana
LAFAYETTE, La. – The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns have selected Learfield as the university’s multimedia rights partner through the 2027-28 collegiate athletic season as announced today by Director of Athletics Dr. Bryan Maggard.
The 10-year partnership with Learfield marks a first-of-its-kind for the Ragin’ Cajuns as the collegiate marketer will manage all aspects of Louisiana’s comprehensive athletic rights previously overseen by the university. Learfield already has been vetting candidates for its “Ragin’ Cajuns Sports Properties” team that will be established in Lafayette to work alongside Maggard and the athletics administration. Ragin’ Cajuns Sports Properties will begin oversight of the rights relationship concurrent with the 2018-19 season and will include signage, digital, television and radio broadcasts and coaches’ shows, as well as further development of the corporate partner platform.
“We are extremely excited to partner with Learfield, an industry leader representing intercollegiate athletic programs in the multi-media marketplace,” said Maggard. “This partnership will allow us to continue to enhance our brand nationally while growing additional revenues that will help support our overall objectives of graduating student-athletes and competing for and winning championships.”
With the addition of the Ragin’ Cajuns, Learfield now represents seven members of the Sun Belt Conference. The Texas-based company currently manages the individual athletic multimedia rights and sponsorship initiatives for Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, UA Little Rock, Louisiana-Monroe, Texas State and University of Texas at Arlington as well. LA Tech and McNeese State are the other collegiate athletic programs within the state represented by Learfield.
“We look forward to representing the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns,” said Learfield President and CEO Greg Brown. “We are pleased to be able to work with Bryan Maggard and his team and have a great appreciation for his leadership. We also respect the intensity of the Ragin’ Cajuns fan base and are looking forward to developing brand building campaigns for sponsors on behalf of the entire athletics program.”
An industry leader for more than four decades, Learfield has a deep presence in the college athletics landscape nationwide. It manages the multimedia and sponsorship rights for nearly 130 collegiate institutions, conferences and arenas, and supports athletic departments at all competitive levels as title sponsor of the prestigious Learfield Directors’ Cup. Learfield also provides its collegiate partners access to professional concessions and ticket sales; branding, licensing and trademark consulting; digital and social platform expertise; campus-wide business and sponsorship development; and venue and technology systems through its affiliated companies.