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Kansas Athletics signs extension with Aspire through 2019

March 22, 2018

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ATLANTA – The Aspire Sport Marketing Group and Kansas Athletics, Inc. (KAI) announced a two-year extension to its partnership that began in May 2014. The new deal will run through 2019.

The renewal follows KU’s announcement of the “Raise the Chant” capital campaign, which Aspire will be proactively selling all seating inventory, including premium amenities, once the Memorial Stadium project is complete.

“Our partnership with The Aspire Group has allowed us to cultivate future Kansas Jayhawk fans and donors, while also helping us elevate our overall customer service efforts,” Kansas Director of Athletics Dr. Sheahon Zenger said. “We look forward to continuing to grow with Bernie (Mullin) and his team over the next couple of years.”

“I’m especially pleased for this two-year extension with my alma mater,” said Bernie Mullin, Chairman & Founder of The Aspire Group. “I’ve been extremely proud of the results we’ve produced over the last three years at Kansas, and look forward to continuing our efforts.”

Aspire currently provides ticket marketing, sales and customer service support with a specialized staff of 14 housed on-campus in Lawrence, Kansas.

The KU Fan Relationship Management Center (FRMC) has generated over $16 million in total revenue, highlighted by over $2 million in stand-alone donations. The success for stand-alone donations can be attributed to the FRMC staff supplementing the efforts of the KU Williams Education Fund staff.

The FRMC has increased football group tickets by 257 percent from the 2016 season, the highest available reported numbers in program history*.

Breaking records for women’s sports

Last year, KU women’s soccer set the home attendance record for the second-straight season, ranking third among Big 12 teams and finishing 25th in NCAA average attendance. Already this year in early October, KU women’s soccer set the NCAA DI attendance record (2,514) for the state of Kansas.

“Through our focus of engaging the fan base and group sales efforts, we have achieved some great milestones especially in women’s sports,” said Yancey Jones, Sr. Director of Ticket Sales & Service for the KU FRMC. “We are extremely excited to continue our partnership with KU and contribute to the future of KU Athletics.”

KU softball hit a record of 1,429 with its sellout against Texas on April 28, 2017, and ended the season ranked No. 28 in NCAA average attendance.

KU volleyball has sold out of its season ticket allotment for back-to-back years (2017 and 2016).

 

About The Aspire Group

The Aspire Group is a sports and entertainment marketing firm that is globally recognized for innovative consulting, ticketing and partnership services. Aspire created the outsourced ticket sales niche, revolutionizing Intercollegiate Athletics with the first Fan Relationship Management Center (FRMC) at Georgia Tech in 2009. Over 215 collegiate and professional sports properties have trusted Aspire to drive revenue, attendance and enterprise value growth through the combination of strategic consulting and research services, data insights and best-in-industry fan relationship management.

For inquiries, contact A.J. Smith at 404-389-9100 or aj.smith@theaspiregroupinc.com.

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