WMU Broncos renew with Aspire for multi-year extension

ATLANTA, GA – Western Michigan University (WMU) Athletics and The Aspire Sport Marketing Group announced today a multi-year extension to its ticket sales partnership that began in 2011. In addition to new ticket sales initiatives, Aspire will now be responsible for service and retention, supplemental support for philanthropic donations to the Mike Gary fund, and strategic consulting and fan research services.

“We are delighted to extend our tremendous relationship with The Aspire Group, Bernie Mullin, Bill Fagan and their staff,” WMU Director of Athletics Kathy Beauregard said. “We look forward to a continued mutually beneficial partnership, enhancing revenue and the game day experience.”

“We are honored to continue our support of the Broncos for many years to come. In many ways, we have grown up along with WMU Athletics over the past seven years,” stated Bill Fagan, Aspire’s Chief Operation Officer. “Our more deeply integrated partnership model enables us to provide fans the most advanced personalized fan service while providing the athletic administration access to ‘next practice’ ticket marketing, sales and service strategies and tactics.”

In just the past year, WMU FRMC has experienced triple-digit increases in ticket sales revenue growth for both men’s (111%) and women’s basketball (276%). The FRMC has also increased WMU’s multi-sport flex plan, the Bronco Plan, revenue by 185%.

The WMU FRMC has been managed by John Zeleznock for the past three years. Zeleznock began his career with Aspire in 2012 at the Florida Atlantic University FRMC where he was named a two-time Hustle Award (2012, 2013), two-time Top Revenue Award (2013, 2014) and Leadership Award (2014) winner.

About WMU Athletics

Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo, midway between Detroit and Chicago. The WMU Division of Intercollegiate Athletics offers 16 Division I sports as proud members of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). The Broncos are led by Director of Athletics Kathy Beauregard.

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.