COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Mountain West announced a multi-year agreement with Old Trapper today, making it the Title Sponsor of the Mountain West Football Championship game and the “Official Beef Jerky” of the Mountain West starting July 1, 2024. The alliance, secured by rights holder JMI Sports, marks a significant milestone for the Mountain West and promises to elevate the fan experience while infusing traditional college football with modern fun and entertainment.
“We are excited to welcome Old Trapper as the Title Sponsor of the Mountain West Football Championship Game and Official Beef Jerky of the Conference,” said MW Commissioner Gloria Nevarez. “This iconic beef jerky is a perfect partner who aligns with the innovative spirit of the American West and the values that embody the MW student-athlete experience. We look forward to collaborating with Old Trapper and elevating both brands during this partnership.”
As the championship game’s title sponsor, Old Trapper will be incorporated into the Mountain West Football Championship mark displayed through promotional, digital, and social content, along with in-stadium branding. Also included are additional pregame and in-game promotional tie-ins and prominent signage at MW Football Media Days.
“We are excited to announce our new partnership with Mountain West as the Official Beef Jerky and Title Sponsor of the Mountain West Football Championship Game,” said Robert Leary, Chief Marketing Officer of Old Trapper. “Collegiate athletes and the fans that cheer them on are some of our most loyal consumers, and we are proud to partner with Mountain West in a multi-year partnership that promises to ignite passion both on and off the field.”
In addition to the Mountain West Football Championship Game sponsorship, Old Trapper is designated the “Official Beef Jerky” of the Mountain West for the next three seasons (2024-2027). Old Trapper will receive prominent branding opportunities, curated digital and social media inventory across MW’s owned media channels, the Mountain West Network and MW App, fan-focused activations, and hospitality across MW sports year-round.
“We are thrilled to bring this innovative partnership between the Mountain West Conference and Old Trapper Beef Jerky together,” said Pete Thuresson, Senior Vice President, JMIS Properties. “This collaboration not only underscores the value of visionary alliances in collegiate sports but also highlights the potential for brands like Old Trapper to engage with fans on a deeper level. We look forward to supporting both parties as they embark on creating new, fun, and exciting experiences in the years ahead.”
For more information on JMI Sports, a leading media rights and venue development company dedicated to transformative partnerships, please visit jmisports.com.
ABOUT OLD TRAPPER SMOKED PRODUCTS
Old Trapper Smoked Products has produced its signature line of authentic handmade beef jerky and meat sticks from its headquarters in Forest Grove, Oregon, since 1969. That 50+ years of experience, complemented by continued investments in state-of-the-art processes, result in top-quality products that are distributed nationwide. A family-run business, Old Trapper has been recognized as Category Captain by Convenience Store News, and offers a full line of high-quality, naturally smoked meat snacks using only the best lean strips of beef, the freshest seasoning ingredients, and real wood-fired smoke. For more information, please visit www.OldTrapper.com.
ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN WEST
From its inception in 1999, the Mountain West has been committed to excellence in intercollegiate athletics, while promoting the academic missions of its member institutions. Progressive in its approach, the Mountain West continues to cultivate opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the highest level while fostering academic achievement and sportsmanship. Now in its 25th year, the MW has been assertive in its involvement with the NCAA governance structure and has taken a leadership role in the overall administration of intercollegiate athletics. The Mountain West membership is comprised of 11 all-sport members: United States Air Force Academy, Boise State University, Colorado State University, California State University, Fresno, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, University of Nevada, Reno, University of New Mexico, San Diego State University, San José State University, Utah State University and University of Wyoming. In addition, the University of Hawai‘i, Manoa and Colorado College participate in the Mountain West as single-sport members in football and women’s soccer, respectively.
ABOUT JMI SPORTS
JMI Sports is a leading media rights and venue development company that provides management of collegiate multimedia rights, sponsorship sales agency representation, and project management expertise for the development of collegiate and professional sports facilities. The company serves to maximize each client’s economic potential through customized initiatives, from marketing and branding solutions to facility design strategies. JMI Sports’ signature collegiate multimedia rights partnerships include the University of Kentucky, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, Harvard University, DePaul University, Columbia University, San Diego State University, University of California at San Diego, and joint-venture properties of the University of Georgia (with Learfield), and University of Notre Dame (with Legends). JMI Sports also represents multimedia rights for several conferences, including the Ivy League, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Patriot League and the Atlantic 10, and serves as third-party sales representation for premier sports properties, venues and events, including the Breeders’ Cup, Clemson University, Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, and the Penn Relays. JMI Sports was founded in 2006 by CEO Erik Judson and technology entrepreneur John Moores, former owner of the San Diego Padres.
To learn more, please visit www.jmisports.com.
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