By: Nolan Alexander
ATLANTA, Ga. – Kennesaw State University (KSU) and The Aspire Sport Marketing Group (Aspire) have agreed to a multi-year ticket sales and service partnership. Staff at Aspire's on-campus Fan Relationship Management Center (FRMC), led by Shawn Betz, will be responsible for driving revenue across all of the Owls' ticketed sports and will become an integrated team with student workers within KSU Athletics and the business/sport management program. Collectively, this will bring the most comprehensive fan-centric service approach to KSU.
"We are excited to launch this partnership with The Aspire Group to better engage and serve our supporters. Our student-athletes are inspired by and thrive off the home field advantage that a great crowd atmosphere brings to KSU athletic competitions," said Director of Athletics Milton Overton. "We look forward to leveraging our strengths with the Aspire team to grow our fan base and multiply the footprint of KSU's brand in the collegiate sports marketplace."
"We could not be more excited to partner with Kennesaw State Athletics," said Aspire's Sr. VP of FRMC & Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Tony Garrett. "Under the great leadership of Milton Overton, KSU has set the table for long term growth and success. Our partnership will provide an on campus service and sales team to serve and engage with KSU fans and the Kennesaw community year-round."
KSU and Aspire are also partners in USA Rugby 7s Collegiate Championships, the official national championship tournament event for both men's and women's collegiate rugby 7s. KSU's Fifth Third Bank Stadium will host the inaugural tournament from May 14th through 15th, 2022, with live coverage on NBC, CNBC, and Peacock.
About Kennesaw State University Athletics
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its nearly 43,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the third-largest university in the state. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status.
The Kennesaw State Department of Athletics sponsors 18 NCAA Division I programs, all of which will compete in the ASUN Conference in 2022-23.
In the just past five years, KSU has taken home 15 ASUN championship titles, three Big South championships, and made 21 appearances in an NCAA Tournament, including a 2019 NCAA Hammer Throw Champion in Daniel Hough. Click here to visit KSU's website.
About The Aspire Group
The Aspire Group is an award-winning sports and entertainment marketing firm that is globally recognized for innovative ticket and sponsorship sales, consulting, and research 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 the past twelve years, more than 280 collegiate and professional sports properties have trusted Aspire to drive revenue, attendance, and enterprise-value growth through the combination of marketing, strategic consulting, and research services and best-in-industry fan relationship management.
For more information about The Aspire Group visit us here and follow us on Twitter @theaspire_group
For project and partnership inquiries, contact A.J. Smith at 404-389-9100 or aj.smith@theaspiregroupinc.com.
