KINGSTON, R.I. – In its first-ever affiliation with University of Rhode Island Athletics, Lexus of Warwick (a Penske Automotive Dealer) launches into a comprehensive, integrated partnership during Rhody men’s and women’s basketball season as announced today by URI Athletics and its multimedia rights holder, Learfield Sports’ Rhody Sports Properties.
As part of its multi-year agreement, the dealership receives category exclusivity and will be known as the “Official Luxury Automobile of URI Athletics and the Thomas M. Ryan Center” through June 2017. Complementing its hospitality, radio, website and digital sponsorship benefits across all Rhody sports, Lexus of Warwick will receive heightened in-arena brand visibility including basketball hoop stanchions and numerous signage locations, and serve as presenting sponsor of courtside seating at all home men’s and women’s basketball games. Additional branding opportunities include logo inclusion on courtside tickets, branded kick plates on courtside seats and branded carpet floor runners by courtside seats.
“This is a great opportunity for both URI Athletics and Lexus of Warwick,” said URI Director of Athletics Thorr Bjorn. “We’re extremely grateful to all of our dedicated sponsors who support our athletics. Our agreement with Lexus officially soars us to new sponsorship heights with Rhody Sports Properties, which takes great pride in creating unique opportunities that add value to us, our students, community, and the partner. We couldn’t be more excited about reaching this new milestone mark from our stable of corporate partners – a true testament to the great things happening here on campus now and in the future.”
Beginning this season, Lexus of Warwick also shares co-presentation rights to the URI Annual Pink Out game on Feb. 25, when the men’s basketball team faces Davidson at 7 p.m. ET. The dealership also will own rights to the “Lexus Driver of the Game” promotion, in which one contestant will be selected at each of the remaining home games and of those winners, one will be randomly chosen at the end of the year and granted a trip to the Barclays Center for the A10 Tournament.
“Lexus of Warwick is thrilled to partner with the University of Rhode Island Athletic Department,” said Stephen Aylward, Lexus of Warwick General Manager. “Supporting a robust school such as URI allows us to not only be visible within our community, but also allows us to be a support behind the scenes for others. We, at Lexus, look forward to many years of working together for a common purpose. Go Rams!”
URI is one of nearly 100 collegiate properties managed by Learfield Sports. Learfield’s rich history includes four decades of developing trusted, long-term relationships with some of the most revered institutions and associations in the world of college sports. The company has prominence in all of the major conferences and titles the prestigious Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup. Learfield represents collegiate institutions, conferences and arenas for their respective multimedia rights and sponsorship initiatives, and offers these partners with professional concessions and ticket sales, licensing and trademark consulting and digital platform expertise through its owned companies. To learn more about its history, businesses and job opportunities, please visit www.learfieldsports.com.