LEARFIELD Introduces Outsourced Fundraising Model as New Offering

Standalone Development Teams Recently Launched for Select ACC, Big 12, SEC Schools

 

PLANO, Texas (Sept. 7, 2021) – LEARFIELD announced today a new solution for supporting its partner universities, with the launch of several new standalone development teams on campus. South Carolina, TCU, Virginia Tech and West Virginia each have recently teamed up with LEARFIELD in this area, while Oklahoma’s relationship dates to last year.

Four LEARFIELD development officers are now specifically dedicated to premium seating, annual fund, and capital campaigns at the University of Oklahoma. Due to the success in Norman, coupled with the shifting revenue landscape dictated by COVID-19, LEARFIELD has formally expanded its offerings to include development-focused personnel designed to supplement existing development teams under the Ticket & Seat Solutions division led by Executive Vice President Jake Bye.

“When the pandemic hit, our Ticket Solutions business had to identify new strategies in how we could support our partners,” said Bye. “As ticket sales were paused due to COVID-19, we shifted the focus of our on-site sales personnel into a role focused more on customer service and donor stewardship. Through those additional touchpoints with fans, we were able to make a profound impact driving donation revenue for our schools. As a result, we’ve now established an entire vertical within our business to be even better positioned to serve our partner schools.”

 

South Carolina, TCU and West Virginia each will have staff focused on generating new, philanthropic donations separate and apart from ticket purchases. Additionally, Ticket Solutions’ newest expanded partnership with Virginia Tech will be dedicated to selling all premium seating areas within Lane Stadium. Zane Gregory has been hired as premium sales manager to lead this new effort after spending the past two years at Bristol Motor Speedway.

 

“We are excited to expand our relationship with LEARFIELD by adopting this new solution and creating even more synergy with their team,” said Virginia Tech Senior Associate Athletics Director, External Operations Brad Wurthman. “This new premium sales and retention team will be a critical component not only of our revenue strategy, but also of our fan engagement strategy. Our fans are incredible, and this solution will offer them another way to engage with our athletic program.”

 

LEARFIELD Ticket & Seat Solutions currently represents 40 partners nationally. By combining the best breed of technology, dynamic industry leadership, and reputable sales and service staff, Ticket Solutions works with universities and professional sport franchises to create engaged relationships with fans across the country that optimize revenue opportunities. In partnership with LEARFIELD’s Data and Analytics Team, Ticket Solutions recently formed a centralized Data AnalyTIX team designed to grow ticket, fundraising, and sponsorship revenue streams by providing partners with a cohesive data and analytics strategy.

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