IMG College's new ticketing solutions division has signed Duke Univ. as its "first new client," according to Michael Smith of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. The arrangement, "which goes into effect July 1, will put IMG College in charge of Duke’s ticket sales." IMG College is hiring a "full-time sales force," including a GM and four staffers, that will be "based in the Duke athletic department at Cameron Indoor Stadium." Former Rays and Hawks ticket exec Derek Cheung will be IMG College’s GM on the Duke property. Duke will "continue to handle the processing and fulfillment of the orders with a ticket support staff of five employees." IMG College will be paid "based on a percentage of sales, and that payment will increase as ticket sales hit certain thresholds." Smith notes this marks IMG College's "first deal since it acquired Matt DiFebo’s ticketing consultancy last year and created a ticket solutions division" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/2 issue).
A DIFFERENT FORMATION: In Kentucky, Mark Story reported there will be "significant behind-the-scenes difference in the radio broadcasts" of Univ. of Kentucky athletics next season as part of IMG's acquisition of ISP in '10. The merged operation "will produce its radio broadcasts from the former ISP broadcast center in Winston-Salem." Still, "not all of IMG College" is leaving Kentucky. The people that "sell the advertising for UK sports broadcasts" will remain in Lexington, as will "another part of the company that manages groups such as the American Volleyball Coaches Association" (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 5/1).
