Pitt has signed on with a collegiate sports marketing agency. The company is called ISP Sports. They have deals with a bunch of schools, including Auburn, UCLA, Miami, Syracuse, Villanova, Cincinnati and Wake Forest. It seems like a good situation for Pitt.
With the partnership, the university is guaranteed an annual rights fee while sharing in additional revenues generated by ISP Sports as well. In consideration, ISP will manage and produce all sales and marketing opportunities associated with the Panther athletic program, including live play-by-play and coaches’ shows on the Pittsburgh ISP Sports Network, internet programming, print advertising in various athletic publications, and all signage and promotions at university athletic events.
You let a company that specializes in this area handle matters with image building and promotion (and honestly, this is an area that Pitt could use the help). They take a cut, but you count on the increase in volume of sales and publicity to more than offset it. For any Pitt alum with sales experience, they are hiring an associate general manager.