University of Massachusets Athletics
WRNX WILL BE UMASS SPORTS RADIO HOME
 |  For the next three years, UMass men's basketball, ice hockey and football radio broadcasts can be heard throughout the Pioneer Valley on WRNX, 100.9 FM. |
July 14, 2003
AMHERST, Mass. -- In a move which affords the University of Massachusetts athletic department the best opportunity to enhance its corporate sponsorship revenue streams while continuing to provide its fans with the strongest possible broadcast signal, UMass has selected Holyoke's WRNX (100.9 FM) as the radio home of Minuteman men's basketball, ice hockey and football for the next three years, Athletic Director Ian McCaw announced Monday. Today's announcement is the first in a series of new revenue enhancement plans the department will unveil during the 2003-04 fiscal year."We look forward to continuing our relationship with Tom Davis and his staff at WRNX," McCaw said. "We received two strong bids for the contract, but in the end believed that a relationship with WRNX would provide us the best opportunity to serve our alumni, friends and corporate partners throughout the region."
In 2002-03, UMass football and ice hockey broadcasts were carried on a commercial FM station for the first time ever throughout the Pioneer Valley on WRNX, and the station's strong signal also enhanced radio coverage for the men's basketball program, too.
During the contract's three-year term, Massachusetts will bring its entire radio network operations in-house and purchase the air time directly from WRNX, a move that will allow the University to control all network commercial inventory and generate more corporate revenue for its athletic program. A year ago, UMass and WRNX shared revenues, and in previous years, the University received a flat rights fee from its network partner to broadcast the games.
The contract, which includes all radio broadcasts of Minuteman men's basketball, ice hockey and football games, home and away, as well as the weekly Steve Lappas, Mark Whipple and Don "Toot" Cahoon radio shows from the 2003-04 academic year through 2005-06, will cost the department $68,000 annually.
In addition to providing the play-by-play broadcasts and coaches programs, WRNX will air a Saturday morning All-Sports show focusing on the University's highly-successful Olympic sports teams. Promotional considerations provided by WRNX for UMass will total more than $260,000 annually in on-air support, marketing and promotions.
"We are absolutely thrilled to continue our broadcasts of UMass Athletics on WRNX," said Tom Davis, WRNX president. "Everyone at the station is a fan of the teams, and we are very excited about the coming seasons. Working with everyone in the athletic department, from the coaches to the administrative staff, has been a pleasure and a valued partnership.
"The tremendous response from our audience along with the overwhelming success and increasing awareness of UMass sports certainly reinforces our belief that this partnership is an excellent match," Davis added.
Network sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting UMass Associate Athletic Director Thorr Bjorn at 413.577.0232.