MillerCoors confirmed that six of its Univ. of Illinois-branded billboards in the Champaign-Urbana area "were taken down at the university's request" after they were up for about a month, according to Cohen & Harris of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. The billboards "went up in August, soon after the university reversed a ban on beer sponsorships, allowing them in exchange for at least 'six figures' in additional revenue a year." But university officials "were blindsided by the billboards." While they "had approved the artwork to be used at places that sell alcohol -- bars, restaurants and grocery stores, for example -- they didn't realize it also would be displayed on billboards, including some near campus." The signs "feature a bottle of Coors Light and the Illinois 'Block I' logo on a football, with the words 'Official beer of the Fighting Illini.'" The university "has decided the billboards in other parts of the state can remain." UI Associate Chancellor & Dir of Public Affairs Robin Kaler: "We had concerns about billboards that appeared in Champaign-Urbana, as they gave the impression they were geared to students." Learfield Sports, which works with UI, "established 'Fighting Illini Sports Properties'" about three years ago. MillerCoors "won the bidding process and signed a four-year agreement with Learfield that began July 1" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/15). This comes after UConn in September had a similar issue with MillerCoors billboards (THE DAILY).
