Butler Univ. has signed a long-term multimedia rights partnership with Learfield Sports that runs through the ’24-25 college season and will see the formation of Butler Sports Properties. Learfield President & CEO Greg Brown said the new property will be looking for innovative ways to monetize all of Butler’s available content across multiple platforms such as corporate sponsorships, signage, digital, local TV rights, as well as others. Learfield also will be tasked with negotiating a new radio broadcast deal for Butler, whose flagship station is ESPN Radio 1070 Indianapolis. Brown said Butler AD Barry Collier has done a "terrific job executing his vision for the program." Brown: "They have had great success in recent years and we are pleased to be able to help them continue to expand upon that vision by finding unique ways to build the brand." Willis Cheaney, a sales exec within the firm’s Indiana Univ. Sports Properties, has been named BSP GM. He will collaborate with Collier on staffing decisions for the new entity. Butler becomes the fifth Big East school to sign with Learfield, following Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall and Xavier. Brown said of targeting Big East institutions, “We like that league and feel like it has a lot of opportunity because it is a new combination of schools.” ANC Sports Enterprises, which Learfield assumed a controlling interest of in March, last year installed a new scoreboard and digital signage inside Butler’s basketball arena, Hinkle Fieldhouse. Learfield Sports on Wednesday received Best in Property Consulting, Sales & Client Services at the ’15 Sports Business Awards.
