SPARTANBURG, S.C., July 24,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Southern Conference
(SoCon) announced Wednesday an expanded partnership with
TrailRunner Sports to lead both advisory and negotiation services
for its future media rights process, and to provide guidance on
prospective site plans for the Ingles SoCon Basketball
Championships. This announcement was made at the Southern
Conference Football Media Day by Commissioner Michael Cross.
Southern Conference events and content are currently distributed
by ESPN, CBS Sports, and Nexstar. With the aim of enhancing and
augmenting both its broadcast and digital media presence, the SoCon
will collaborate with TrailRunner Sports to navigate the process of
securing its next media rights agreements. All three media deals
are coterminous and expire in the summer of 2026.
TrailRunner Sports will also advise on the future site selection
process for the Ingles SoCon Basketball Championships to ensure
they continue to provide an exceptional experience for
student-athletes, fans, and partners. The current agreement with
the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission to host the men's
and women's basketball tournaments at the Harrah's Cherokee
Center-Asheville currently expires after the 2026 events.
The TrailRunner Sports team will be led by Jamie Zaninovich and Maddie Kraft, who combined, offer deep
experience in media rights strategy and negotiations, as well as
event management, and activation. TrailRunner Sports is a new
division of TrailRunner International, and a joint venture with
Legends, as announced by both companies in December of last
year.
"The opportunity to collaborate with TrailRunner Sports
regarding both our media rights and the future of our basketball
championships will provide a creative and efficient approach to
numerous central elements of the SoCon. The way we promote our
student-athletes and our institutions and share our high-level
competition with SoCon fans across the country and around the world
is of paramount importance." Cross said, expressing his enthusiasm
for the partnership. "The expertise, relationships, and industry
knowledge Jamie brings to the table from multiple Division I
conferences, and Maddie has with her professional sports experience
will undoubtedly provide the ideas and innovation we are seeking. I
have great trust the Southern Conference will benefit from their
guidance and counsel in both negotiations."
By partnering with TrailRunner Sports, the SoCon aims to
leverage its industry expertise to maximize the value of both the
Conference's media rights and also its premier conference
championship event. This collaboration represents the SoCon's
commitment to staying at the forefront of the ever-evolving college
sports media landscape and delivering on the "IT'S ALL HERE"
promise to its membership and fans.
"We could not be more pleased to continue our work with
Commissioner Cross and his phenomenal team at the Southern
Conference on these important strategic initiatives," Zaninovich
said. "Thanks to the recent success of its programs and the
unwavering support from its passionate fanbase, the Conference is
uniquely positioned to elevate the future of both of these
properties."
About Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a
collegiate athletic conference comprising 10 member institutions in
the southeastern United States.
With a rich history spanning over 100 years as the fourth oldest
athletics conference in the country, the SoCon is committed to
fostering excellence in academics and athletics while providing a
platform for student-athletes to succeed both on and off the field.
For more information, please visit www.soconsports.com.
About TrailRunner Sports
TrailRunner Sports is a
strategic business advisory and communications firm serving the
global sports industry. TrailRunner Sports helps clients win in
today's complex global landscape, with matters impacting teams,
leagues, conferences, universities, and owners ranging from
executive positioning and crisis communications to matters of
public reputation strategy and special situations. The firm takes a
team approach across diverse disciplines including media, law,
finance, and regulatory affairs to address opportunities and
challenges that no longer fit neatly into traditional categories.
TrailRunner Sports is based in Dallas/Fort Worth with offices in New York; Nashville; Abu Dhabi;
Dubai; London; Shanghai; and Truckee, California. Learn more at
www.trailrunnersports.com.
Media: Bryan Brush,
TrailRunner International, bryan.brush@trailrunnerint.com
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SOURCE TrailRunner International