McLean County Times

Illinois State Athletics has entered into a multi-year sponsorship agreement with State Farm, marking a significant collaboration in college football. This partnership will introduce the State Farm logo on the 25-yard lines at Hancock Stadium starting November 2, during the game against Youngstown State.

"State Farm is an incredible partner, and we are thrilled with this new opportunity to support our football program," stated Dr. Jeri Beggs, Illinois State Interim Director of Athletics. "We are focused on delivering incredible experiences for our student-athletes, fans, and alumni, and this partnership elevates our program."

The partnership extends beyond football, as State Farm's support encompasses men's and women's basketball and Olympic sports through various sponsorship programs. The branding will also be visible on television-viewable signage, venue LED screens, the official athletics website GoRedbirds.com, and other fan engagement platforms.

Kristyn Cook, State Farm Chief Agency Sales & Marketing Officer, expressed pride in the sponsorship: "Through this sponsorship we are reaching passionate college sports fans in a new and impactful way."

Matt Moran from Redbird Sports Properties highlighted the potential of this collaboration: "It is exciting to further unite the passion of college football with State Farm to deliver meaningful connections for Redbird fans everywhere."

Learfield’s Vice President of National Partnership Management Lori Bland emphasized the strategic fit between Illinois State and State Farm: "Pairing State Farm with Illinois State for this on-field logo sponsorship is a natural fit."

Redbird Sports Properties manages all multimedia rights for Illinois State Athletics. This includes handling sponsorships and advertising through Learfield's corporate business development team.