CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) Athletics has extended its multimedia rights relationship with Learfield – the media and technology company powering college sports – as announced Tuesday, March 19, by Interim Athletics Director Bob Bowlsby. In addition, Learfield has appointed Mike Murray the new general manager of its Cedar Falls-based team, Panther Sports Properties.
“UNI Athletics has established a strong partnership with Learfield over the years, and we are eager to extend this collaborative effort for years to come,” said Bowlsby. “With this extension and the addition of Mike Murray to the Panther Sports Property team, we are confident our partnership with Learfield will continue to strengthen, enhancing our ability to deliver exceptional experiences for our corporate partners, fans and student-athletes.”
The Panthers and Learfield have been partners for nearly two decades, with the industry leader representing UNI through 2030 in the renewed agreement. Panther Sports Properties will remain solely dedicated to UNI, collaborating closely with Bowlsby and the athletic department, as well as corporate sponsors.
Learfield has been the Panthers’ multimedia rightsholder since 2008. The University also works with Learfield by way of licensed merchandise agency CLC, digital ticket and marketing platform provider Paciolan and digital solutions leader SIDEARM Sports.
“We are excited to extend our multimedia rights relationship with UNI Athletics,” said Chris Sanders, Learfield executive vice president. “This renewal underscores our dedication to supporting UNI’s athletic program and the community it serves, and we look forward to leveraging the expertise of Mike and our Panther Sports Property team to deliver impactful experiences for Panther fans.”
As general manager of Panther Sports Properties, Murray will serve as the primary Learfield liaison related to the university’s comprehensive athletics multimedia rights agreement and corporate partner platform. He will work closely with Bowlsby and the entire athletics administration on all aspects of the Learfield/UNI relationship.
Murray brings extensive industry experience to the Panther Sports Properties team. Most recently, he served as the chief commercial officer for the Reno Aces Baseball Club in Nevada, where he led teams in deploying high-grossing ticket sales strategies and delivering innovative marketing solutions. Prior to his role with the Aces, he held positions with the Lotus Radio Corporation as both station manager and general manager. Murray holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Northern Iowa and a sports management certificate from NYU’s Fundamentals of Global Sports Management program.
About Learfield
Learfield is a leading media, data and technology services company in intercollegiate athletics. The company unlocks the value of sports for brands and fans through an omnichannel platform with innovative content and commerce solutions. Learfield services includes licensing and multimedia sponsorship management; publishing, audio, digital and social media; data analytics; ticketing, ticket sales and professional concessions expertise; branding; campus-wide business and sponsorship development; and venue technology systems. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.