The playing surfaces at Indiana’s top venues could be taking on a new look in the near future.
Via release, IU Athletics says they have created a first-of-its kind branding opportunity available on the playing surfaces of both Memorial Stadium and Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
In Memorial Stadium, potential brand partners can now consider the chance to become the field level sponsor with their logo displayed on each side of the field at the 25-yard line.
Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, meanwhile, can now feature a single marketing partner’s logo on each side of the court. The Daily Hoosier inquired whether this would involve a renaming of the court, which has been known as Branch McCracken Court since the building opened in 1971. A spokesperson for IU Athletics responded and said this is a branding opportunity only. The name of the court will not change.
IU says these new opportunities are available immediately. There will be only one partnership entered into for each of IU’s two most high-profile athletic facilities, and once sold, these two opportunities will not be available again for multiple years based on the nature of the potential multi-year agreements.
IU Athletics facilities have never featured brand logos on any of its facilities’ playing surfaces.
This change comes in the wake of the NCAA’s recent decision to allow corporate advertisements on courts and fields, and in response to the growing need for intercollegiate athletic departments to identify and secure new avenues and levels of funding in support of student-athletes. For example, athletic departments are expected to be allowed to share with student athletes approximately 22% of their revenue beginning in 2025.
Indiana’s pitch to potential corporate partners centers of course on visibility.
In terms of television viewership, in the last two years IU Men’s Basketball has averaged more than 10 million TV viewers for its home games; IU Football has averaged more than 7 million; and IU Women’s Basketball has averaged more than 1 million.
In addition, IU Men’s and Women’s Basketball combined to host 472,132 fans at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in 2023-24, the highest combined attendance total in the nation.
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