MACOMB, Ill. – As the 2024 athletic season approaches, Leatherneck Athletics would like to welcome several new and returning companies to the Western Illinois University athletic sponsorship program. The 2024-25 academic year marks the first year for WIU Athletics to compete in the Ohio Valley Conference with all 17 of its NCAA Division I teams, after the Football and Men's Soccer programs wrapped up their final seasons in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and Summit League, respectively.
Ag Day 2024 is set for Saturday, September 28, and will feature numerous first-time Leatherneck Athletics sponsors. Working alongside the WIU School of Agriculture and the sixth annual "Food, Family, Farming, Football BBQ competition" pregame festivities, Leatherneck Athletics is preparing to center promotions around the Illinois Agriculture community during the one-day event. Additionally, the Ag Day sponsors are extending their investment in season-long radio, signage, and other interactive promotions throughout the Leatherneck Football and Basketball seasons.
"West Central Illinois is an agriculture community," said Rick Thompson, manager of the newly created Leatherneck Sports Properties. "When we first started to analyze the community relationships with WIU Athletics, the first thing that caught our attention was the number of relationships in the agribusiness sector, which dominates this region. The opportunity to sit down with some of the leading agribusiness companies in the country, which are right here in west central Illinois, has been an enjoyable process."
In the last month, WIU Athletics has renewed or signed new agreements with the following companies:
Royal Printing - The official printing company of the Fighting Leathernecks, Royal Printing, with locations in Macomb, Quincy and Wood River, IL and Burlington, IA, returns to the lineup of sponsors for all WIU Athletic sports with their extensive printing, promotional, and mailing capabilities. A family-owned and operated company and proud supporter of WIU Athletics.
West Central FS: The partnership focuses on the importance of the local agriculture community. Ag Day, set for the Leathernecks first home football game on September 28, 2024, will be a celebration of Illinois Agriculture.
Compeer Financial: A new partnership with the Leatherneck Athletics and another addition to the growing Ag Day 2024 lineup. The Leathernecks welcome the third largest agriculture lender in the country to the September 28 pregame festivities surrounding the Leathernecks' first home football game in 2024. Compeer Financial is a member-owned, Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. They provide loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Based in the upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America.
Buffalo Wild Wings: A new multi-year agreement between Leatherneck Athletics and Buffalo Wild Wings of Macomb, and its ownership group, Anchor Point Management (based in Dallas, Texas) have agreed on a sponsorship of the season ticket backs for football and basketball.
US Army Recruiting: The US Army Recruiting battalion will be sponsoring areas of the pregame festivities throughout the 2024 Leatherneck Football season at Hanson Field. The new agreement with Leatherneck Athletics will focus on all pregame and in-game promotions throughout the 2024 WIU Football season.
Toyota: Working with Woodrum Toyota of Macomb, Leatherneck Athletics is pleased to welcome back Toyota as a sponsor of Leatherneck Athletics. The multi-year agreement will rebrand the main tailgating lot at all home football games for the upcoming seasons. Additionally, the Toyota Season Ticket Drive, kicked off in April to sell season tickets for the upcoming football season. Click the link here to purchase your 2024 Leatherneck season tickets.
Martin: West Central Illinois' leader in farm equipment with 13 locations across the heart of the state of Illinois, Martin knows equipment. A longtime sponsor of the Fighting Leathernecks, Martin will be front and center at Hanson Field on September 28 for the Ag Day 2024 and the Leathernecks first home football game of the season. Martin has been in business for over 98 years.
HyVee: We are proud to welcome back the official grocer of WIU Athletics, HyVee. An employee-owned chain of supermarkets in the Midwestern and Southern United States, HyVee has more than 280 locations in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, with stores planned in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. HyVee will sponsor the Leatherneck Radio network throughout the year. All WIU basketball and football radio broadcasts will feature the HyVee Halftime Report, with updates on all 17 NCAA Division I Leatherneck teams.
Hampton Inn: The official hotel of Leatherneck Athletics and the sponsor of the 2024 Leatherneck Volleyball Invitational, which is held in Western Hall in September. Hampton Inn has signed a multi-year agreement with WIU Athletics to provide accommodations for visiting teams, alumni reunions, and other visitors of Macomb. Be sure to call the Hampton Inn – Macomb when planning your next trip to see the Leathernecks play at Hanson Field or inside Western Hall.
Gelsosomo's Pizza: While in Macomb, stop by for lunch or dinner at Gelsosomo's Pizza. A long-time supporter of Leatherneck Athletics.
NTN Bower: NTN Bower is McDonough County's second largest employer with 725 full-time permanent employees, plus an additional 50 temporary employees. The home football game on October 19 vs. Tennessee Tech will serve as NTN Bower Employee Appreciation Day.
G&M Distributing: The Galesburg, Illinois, company will sponsor the Michelob Ultra Touchdown Terrace at all home football games for the Leathernecks in 2024.
Domino's: Another long-time supporter of the Leathernecks, Domino's Pizza has signed a multi-year agreement as the 'official pizza partner" of Leatherneck Athletics. Grab a slice of Domino's pizza while visiting Hanson Field or Western Hall. A favorite of the Clock Tower Community Bank Kid's Club, Domino's is served at all official Kid's Club activities throughout the year.
ABOUT WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Western Illinois University Athletics is an NCAA Division I FCS athletic program competing in 17 sports. A member of the Ohio Valley Conference in all sports, the Leathernecks have a rich tradition of competitive and academic excellence, boasting 55 All-Americans and 34 Academic All-Americans. The mission of WIU Athletics, as an integral component of the University's mission, is to provide an outstanding intercollegiate athletics experience to an academically successful and diverse NCAA Division I student-athlete population.
ABOUT LEATHERNECK SPORTS PROPERTIES
Leatherneck Sports Properties (LNSP), created in 2023, is the official multimedia rights holder for the Western Illinois University Athletics department. We provide the excitement and attraction of college athletics as a unique advertising and marketing opportunity to communicate your company's message while positively impacting your company's bottom line. Leatherneck Sports Properties (LNSP) offers corporate customers a multitude of marketing and multimedia sponsorship opportunities that include live in-game video board production, regional radio coverage, in-store promotions and co-branding opportunities, venue signage at all of our on-campus venues, event impact and gameday marketing, as well as corporate marketing, promotions, hospitality, print, and brand exposure on goleathernecks.com.
LNSP can build a customized marketing package for your business or corporation that capitalizes on our loyal fans throughout each season. Please contact LNSP for more information on collaborating with the WIU Leathernecks and its multiple media and marketing platforms.
For more information, contact Rick Thompson at Leatherneck Sports Properties by call/text at 678-448-2115 or via email at rickcrasports@gmail.com.
