Feb. 14, 2008
The University of New Mexico and Laguna Development Corporation (LDC) today announced an historic agreement that will make Route 66 Casino Hotel the largest individual sponsor in the history of Lobo athletics.
The multi-year agreement is worth in excess of $2.5 million. The agreement between UNM and Route 66 Casino Hotel was secured by Lobo Sports Properties, a property of Learfield Sports and multimedia rights holder for UNM athletics.
“This is a fabulous partnership,” said Paul Krebs, University of New Mexico Vice-President for Athletics. “Route 66 Casino Hotel has made a generous financial commitment to Lobo athletics; a commitment that will benefit hundreds of UNM student-athletes for many years.”
“This is an important part of our effort to make Route 66 Casino Hotel the best known gaming brand in the state of New Mexico,” according to LDC President Jerry Smith. “This sponsorship represents our commitment to higher education and athletic excellence.”
The highlights of the agreement include:
1. Route 66 Casino Hotel as the exclusive gaming sponsor of the University of New Mexico athletics department beginning July 1, 2008;
2. It is the largest sponsorship by a single company in the history of UNM athletics;
3. Route 66 Casino Hotel will receive exclusive signage and collateral opportunities inside University Stadium, The Pit, at the corner of University and Cesar Chavez Boulevards, and at UNM soccer and volleyball venues;
4. The agreement includes advertising and promotional opportunities at football, men’s and women’s basketball and soccer, baseball and volleyball events throughout the year;
5. Route 66 Casino Hotel will be the sponsor of the Send-A-Kid program whereby tickets will be available for Pueblo youth and/or other youth throughout the state of New Mexico to attend Lobo games;
6. The agreement is for five years with an option for an additional three years.
Lobo Sports Properties is the multimedia rights holder for UNM Athletics through 2015. The eight-year agreement with Learfield Sports was secured in March 2007. In addition to the University of New Mexico, Learfield Sports manages multimedia rights for more than 40 collegiate institutions and associations including other Mountain West members San Diego State and Wyoming. Dallas-based Learfield Sports is an operating unit of Jefferson City, Mo.-based Learfield Communications, Inc., which made its initial foray into the world of sports marketing in 1975 as the radio rights holder for the University of Missouri, a client still today. For more information and a complete listing of Learfield Sports’ portfolio, visit www.learfieldsports.com.
Route 66 Casino Hotel is managed by Laguna Development Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Pueblo of Laguna. The Corporation’s mission is to help build the Pueblo’s economy through jobs and by providing income to the Pueblo government so that it can provide essential governmental services such as police protection, emergency services, fire protection, and other community services.