THINKING B1G

Get To Know the Conference

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Become a Part of the Teampg. 3

Terps Host Penn Statepg. 4

Perks of Being an Internpg. 4

November 20, 2014

The Sponsor Scoop

Maryland Sports Properties is just a small branch of the athletic bureaucracy at the University of Maryland, and the university’s recent shift into the Big Ten league has required major adjustments in marketing methods. “It has definitely been a transition to say the least,” MSP account executive Tyler McCarthy remarked. MSP was faced with regulations regarding the company’s inventory that were unfamiliar to its original “game plan,” and major adjustments have lead to an advanced game day experience for old and new clients. “There is now a limited amount of permanent field level signage at football games,” McCarthy added. “We also had to limit the amount of LED digital messaging exposure on our courtside LED boards at basketball games because the Big Ten has reseved some of their own signage to use instead of our own inventory.” The new regulations have provided a struggle for MSP to have new clients “buy in” to the transition, as the new era of Maryland athletics is unfamiliar territory. Although the promise of success is not guaranteed, MSP employees have high hopes for the upcoming 2014-2015 basketball and football seasons. “The transition has enabled us to reach out to new clientele that have targeted reach in Big Ten country,” McCarthy said. “I think in future years, once we see success from our major revenue-generating sports, a lot more prospects will recognize what a great product and market Maryland is in and will be willing to gain new sponsorship partners.”

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A SOLDIER FLY? pg. 2

Photo Credit: Alexi Spector

National Guard tabling at the UM v. Michigan State football game .

ARE YOU READY?ARE YOU READY?

Testudo celebrates a touchtown on the sideline of the Terp’s inaugural Big Ten game against Ohio State (2014).Photo credit: Alexi Spector

If you attend the Military Appreciation UM basketball game, you will. On Feb. 19, 2015, Rappel Master Sgt. Kevin McCluskey of the National Guard will hoist down from the rafters of the XFINITY Center during the pre-game activities and deliver the game ball to Testudo at center court. Extensive planning processes have been implemented to ensure the safety and success of the stunt. “I am working hand-in-hand with the contacts for the Maryland National Guard, the

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A SOLDIER FLY?

Athletic Department’s facilities and marketing team, the university’s Department of Environmental Safety and the university’s legal team,” McCarthy said. In addition to the rappel, added effects include branded digital messaging of the Maryland National Guard on the Heritage Hall LED board and a spotlight illuminating center court. “This is all part of the National Guard’s objective to try to recruit new members and encourage students to get involved during their tenure at Maryland

or after they graduate,” McCarthy said. “If all goes well, this will encourage other sponsors to be a part of the in-game promotional activity exposure.”

Military Appreciation Night, 2013.Source: MSP FacebookCredt: Tyler McCarthy

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GET TOKNOW THEC0NFERENCE“Nearly 120 years after its inception, the Big Ten remains a national leader in intercollegiate athletics on and off the field. Big Ten programs have combined to win more than 300 team and nearly 1,700 individual NCAA Championships, consistently taking home individual honors for athletic and academic ac-complishments and fulfilling the Big Ten’s mission of academic achievement and athletic success.”

- ABOUT THE CONFERENCE,WWW.BIGTEN.ORG

Credit and Source: Alexi Spector

Maryland pride is evident in all aspects of our athletics.Source: MSP Facebook PageCredit: Nick Pisciotta Cinematography

BECOME A PART OF THE TEAM Interested in getting involved? MSP is open to any sponsors looking to promote fan base in the Maryland and Washington D.C. area. In addition to the opportunity to attract students to their brands, sponsors receive benefits packages that give them access to different aspects of Maryland athletics. “There are so many opportunities for exposure,” MSP marketing sales assistant Chris Bacon says. Bacon manages the company’s social media sites and manages several smaller client accounts. He says that now is the “prime time” to buy in to Maryland athletics because the new renovations that come with the school’s entrance into the Big Ten give companies a bigger

audience they will be able to reach. MSP offers benefits such as permanent signage in XFINITY or Byrd Stadium, new LED advertisements in the video scoreboard in XFINITY or the LED boards in Byrd Stadium, commercials on the radio show, various promotions, on-site activation (such as tabling), suite access and ticket opportunities. MSP works with its clients to create special packages based on each company’s marketing objectives. If clients are content with their experiences with MSP, the company will build on their packages to retain and grow the partnership for a greater value as the years pass. The packages are all based on what the client’s overall objectives are and how

much money they are spending. The more value their sponsorship deal is, the more assets they will receive. Clients can also be featured in highlights on MSP social media sites. MSP uses social media to interact with its clients and show proof of the company’s performance on gamedays. MSP is always interested in gaining new clients. The company prides itself for its hospitality and marketing abilities, and ensures that clients will receive all they expect from a sponsor package. For more information regarding sponsorships and getting involved with MSP, please contact general sales manager Jack Young at jyoung@ur.umd.edu.

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Kyle HammMSP Intern

PERKS OF BEING AN INTERN

When he attended the Maryland Sports Career Fair, UM junior Kyle Hamm happened to stumble upon McCarthy, advertising an internship with MSP. “I wanted to gain some experience working in the sports industry as well as experience in an office with a team atmosphere,” Hamm said. Hamm states that some of his jobs included Microsoft Office work, cropping photos to show clients proof of performance, helping to composemarketing portfolios for clients, and being present

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UM player Stefon Diggs runs the ball in a game against Penn State this past football season (2014).

Source: www.baltimore.cbslocal.comCredit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

TERPS TO HOST 2015 PENN STATE HOME GAME AT M&T BANK STADIUM

The new Penn State and University of Maryland rivalry has given MSP an opportunity to take advantage of an entire game day filled with regional fans and sponsors. Not only is the 2015 Penn State versus Maryland football game expected to draw a record number of fans, it will be hosted as a Maryland home game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD. The game, scheduled for Oct. 24, 2015, is expected to “make sponsors very happy,” according to MSP senior account executive Matt Fox. “All of our promotions will go on at M&T, which will give our clients great publicity to students and all other fans that attend the game,” Fox said. Tickets are not yet on sale for the 2015 game. For more information, visit the Big Ten website at http://www.bigten.org/.

and ready to work on game days. “I help set up the tailgate tent, greet clients and check them in, breaking down the tailgate, and then during the game each intern is given a specific task,” Hamm says. “Either dressing up as the Geico Gecko, doing ad photography on the field, or just being on call for the staff in case they need us. All of the interns trade jobs every game.” After a few months of interning with the company, Hamm is eager to continue his work throughout the spring semester. “I wish I knew this internship were available last year. It’s unpaid, but this is truly and internship where the experience substitutes and is valued as pay,” Hamm adds. “They are a great group and are very easy to talk to and learn from. I recommend this to anyone interested in sports marketing.” For more information about an internship, contact Tyler McCarthy at tmccarthy@umd.edu.

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