TOWSON, Md. – Towson
University is pleased to announce that it has selected Team Services, LLC as
its exclusive representative to lead the naming rights partnership sales process
for the Tigers' new arena.
Since breaking ground this past May,
construction of the much-anticipated 5,200 seat venue has moved rapidly and the
building is on target to open in 2013.
The $73 million state-of-art facility is already generating significant
excitement among the Towson and Greater Baltimore communities, and Director of
Athletics Mike Waddell was eager to
move ahead with the naming rights formation process.
Maryland-based Team Services, LLC was
selected from a group of agencies interested in representing Towson for the
sales effort.
Team Services brings significant
experience in the specialized area of naming rights sales and is widely
regarded as one of the foremost agencies in the industry. Among a long track record of notable successes,
company Principals Fred Fried and E.J. Narcise have completed
ground-breaking naming rights partnerships for numerous professional and
collegiate partners, including the Baltimore Ravens (M&T Bank Stadium),
Washington Redskins (FedEx Field), Houston Texans (Reliant Park), University of
Maryland (Comcast Center), and most recently, Louisville Arena Authority (KFC
Yum! Center).
“Tiger Arena will be
a marquee sports and entertainment facility in the Mid-Atlantic and we are
thrilled to be working with Team Services on the naming rights,” said Waddell.
“Team Services is one of the industry leaders with great leadership and
experience in the field. With a strong lineup of programming, including both
sports and entertainment, this facility will create a strong corporate
alignment and make the Towson Community and the greater Baltimore area a
destination for years to come.”
The new arena will be home to Towson
University men's and women's basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics, as well as
major community events, musical performances and family shows. Designs call for a full complement of modern
amenities, including luxury suites, loge boxes, multi-media video and LED
boards, an athletics Hall of Fame and more.
In addition to serving as the hub for
Towson athletics and student events, it is also anticipated that high school
sports championships, graduations, fine arts and other events will make the
arena a true year-round community center.
"Towson
University has established itself as a leader academically, socially and
athletically in the Mid-Atlantic region" said Narcise. "The new arena
will become the centerpiece of Towson's commitment to strengthening its student
experience and fulfilling its metropolitan mission to meet the needs of the
region by upgrading its unparalleled facilities. The arena project is a
momentous step forward for Tigers Athletics and will contribute to the
university's continued growth and prominence in the region. We are honored to have been chosen and
excited for the opportunity to represent Towson University in the effort to
engage the corporate partners."
Team Services has already initiated
the partnership sales process and is engaging leading regional and national
companies. New program packaging efforts are underway, with the first on-site
visits and presentations to potential partners scheduled for the coming weeks.
For
more information on the new arena and for architect renderings, please visit
www.TigerArena.com.
About Towson
University
Towson
University offers the most comprehensive sports program in the metropolitan
Baltimore area, fielding 20 varsity teams that compete in the Colonial Athletic
Association (CAA). Since joining the league in 2001-02, the Tigers have won CAA
titles in men's and women's lacrosse, women's swimming and diving, men's soccer
and men's golf. Last fall, the Tigers added a championship in football led by
Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Rob Ambrose and Jerry Rice National Freshman of the Year Terrence West. During an athletics history that traces its roots to
the 1920's, Towson has sent teams and individual student-athletes to NCAA
post-season competition in baseball, basketball, football, golf, gymnastics,
lacrosse, soccer, swimming, track & field and volleyball. Tiger
student-athletes have distinguished themselves in the classroom as well as on
the field of competition. Eleven Tigers have been named CAA Scholar-Athlete
Award Winners for their respective sports, including the 2010 cross country
recipient, Brandi Gervais, a senior
Biology/Pre-Dentistry Major with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Gervais was also the CAA's
Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women's sports in 2011. A number of
student-athletes have gone on to enjoy professional careers, including most
recently Jermon Bushrod, the
starting left offensive tackle for the 2010 Super Bowl Champion New Orleans
Saints; outfielder Casper Wells with
the Seattle Mariners; and shooting guard Gary
Neal with the San Antonio Spurs.
About Team Services, LLC
Team Services, LLC, based in
Rockville, Maryland, is an industry-leading partnership marketing agency. The
company specializes in providing high-level sponsorship sales, marketing and
consulting services to professional franchises, universities, and
corporations. Team Services has completed
naming rights partnerships on behalf of clients in the NFL, NBA, MLB and NCAA
and leads “Fuel Up to Play 60,” a national fitness and nutrition program
co-owned by America's Dairy Farmers and the NFL. To learn more about Team Services, log on to
their website at www.teamservicesllc.com.
