Ferris State Athletics Announces Major Partnership With The National Guard
Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris State University Athletics and the National Guard have agreed to a major partnership for the 2021-22 athletics season, continuing a longstanding relationship between the two sides.
As part of the new sponsorship package, the National Guard and the Ferris State ROTC will be a strong financial contributor to Bulldog Athletics and receive a significant signage and sponsorship package along with advertising and promotional opportunities beginning this fall.
The contract will be for the 2021-22 athletics season with an option to renew on an annual basis, building upon a partnership with the National Guard that initially began more than a decade ago working alongside Sgt. Shawn Fries.
""We could not be more excited to be partnering up again with the National Guard," said Jake Daugherty, FSU's Coordinator of Corporate Sales and Advancement. "Sgt. Neubauer and SSG Plaska have been incredible to work with and were both instrumental in making this partnership happen.
"As we look forward to an exciting year of Bulldog Athletics, this partnership will help enhance the game day experience as well as give students the opportunity to see the positive impact the National Guard & our Ferris State ROTC program has on our community," he added. "We've never had a partnership of this level and we look forward to growing this partnership to better serve our student-athletes, coaches, the Big Rapids community and Ferris State University."
As part of the major agreement, the National Guard will receive court naming rights to the floor of FSU's Jim Wink Arena with the organization's logo displayed both in front of the Bulldog student section and visitor's bench. Their logo will also receive prominent display in the neutral zone on the ice at the Ewigleben Ice Arena along with being featured on an ice arena dasher board, a banner inside Wink Arena and end zone signage at Top Taggart Field.
Additionally, the National Guard will be the game day sponsor for the Bulldogs' home football opener and also receive commercial advertising and in-game mentions on various broadcasts throughout the year along with being featured on the FerrisStateBulldogs.com website and social media branding. Additional promotional signage and activities are also included and mutually agreed upon by both FSU Athletics and the ROTC/National Guard.
"The Michigan Army National Guard is excited to partner with Ferris State Athletics in hopes of increasing brand awareness and to recruit top talent," said SGT Max Neubauer, who is the university's ROTC Liaison and National Guard Recruiter. "Those joining our program receive full tuition assistance, on the job training and career resume building. See you all on game day!"
The Bulldogs' home football opener, which will be sponsored by the National Guard, is set for Thursday, Sept. 2, against the Findlay Oilers at Top Taggart Field. The official kickoff time will be announced in the near future.
For additional information on the Ferris State ROTC program or the Michigan Army National Guard, please visit these links below: