Coastal Carolina University Athletics Establishes Branding Agreement with South Carolina Election Commission
CONWAY, S.C.
Coastal Carolina University Athletics announced a remarkable partnership with the South Carolina State Election Commission on July 22, 2024. In a one-year deal aligned with Van Wagner, Benton Field at Brooks Stadium will showcase the South Carolina State Election Commission’s logo throughout the 2024 football season.
Coastal and SEC Collaborate in a Ground-breaking Move
Brooks Stadium has been the home ground of Coastal Carolina University’s Chanticleer football team since 2003, and since 2013 for the women’s lacrosse team. In 2015, the playing field swapped natural grass for an artificial teal turf, fondly called “The Surf Turf”. Over the last two seasons, Coastal has welcomed an average of over 17,000 fans to each home football match.
Coastal Carolina has the honor of being the first Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program in the nation to brand their football field through an agreement that does not include naming rights.
TJ Lundeen, the Director of Public Information and Outreach for the SEC, expressed his excitement about this unique partnership by claiming, “Coastal Carolina was a no-brainer for us at the State Election Commission.” He also mentioned how this opportunity to place their logo on the field at Coastal Carolina would remind fans to prepare for the polls at scvotes.gov. He anticipates that this partnership would resonate across the nation as Coastal Carolina steps into another thrilling football season on the Surf Turf.
SEC Harnesses Sports for Community Outreach
This collaboration presents a tremendous opportunity for the State Election Commission to continue spreading the word about the importance of voting in South Carolina. As Howie Knapp, Executive Director of the State Election Commission, pointed out, having the SEC branding on the iconic Surf Turf during the Chanticleers’ games serves as a unique way of reminding voters about their civic duties.
South Carolina’s State Election Commission holds roughly 300 elections each year. It’s noteworthy that South Carolina became the first state in the nation to introduce a state-wide voter registration system and the first to accommodate online registration.
Thoughts from Coastal’s Athletics Department
Chance Miller, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and University Recreation at Coastal Carolina, acknowledged the importance of this collaboration. He thanked the State Election Commission for their partnership, which, he said, will take center-stage on their iconic teal ‘Surf Turf’ at Brooks Stadium for the following year. He emphasized the significance of this collaboration in supporting the athletic department, as well as its role in advancing state agency missions and initiatives.
In addition, he expressed his gratitude to Van Wagner for their role in securing this valuable partnership. This unique alliance evidently proposes to bolster the role of sports in community involvement and the enhancement of civic responsibilities.
