The agreement including media designations, in-venue and broadcast assets, as well as activations within hospitality and fan experience opportunities with Fresno State Athletics events will begin with the 2024-25 Bulldog football season at Valley Children's Stadium. Collaboration will include unique ways to connect the downtown Fresno brewer with a fan base that has long supported each other in fandom.
"This partnership, years in the making, brings together two Valley staples in Fresno State Athletics and all the pride, pageantry and tradition that we represent to our passionate Red Wave fan base, along with Tioga-Sequoia who, without question, proudly represents the Central Valley as the leading craft brewing company in our region," said Frank Pucher, Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Relations. "We are excited for the future initiatives and opportunities this partnership will provide."
Founded in 2007, the leadership team of Tioga-Sequoia includes Fresno State alumnus Michael Cruz. The partnership allows the craft brewer to connect their celebration of all things Central Valley with the heartbeat of the Valley in Bulldog Athletics.
"As a proud alumnus and fan of Fresno State I can't express how excited I am to announce this partnership with Fresno State Athletics," said Michael Cruz, President of Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Co. "A marriage between our two iconic Valley brands makes for something special, combining our fanbases to represent the peak of local pride within the Central Valley. Our deep roots and ties within the community will play a major role in up-and-coming projects and initiatives this 2024-25 season. I can't wait to share more as we get closer to the start of football season. Go 'Dogs!"
The agreement was negotiated with Bulldog Sports Properties, the LEARFIELD arm that manages the unique advertising experiences that national, regional, and local businesses enjoy while engaging with fans who attend Fresno State Athletics events. This represents the first local craft beer sponsorship in the history of Fresno State Athletics.
ABOUT FRESNO STATE ATHLETICS
Founded in 1911, California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) has been the cultural, educational and athletic heart of California's Central Valley region for over a century.
Located in the ninth most diverse city in the country, Fresno State attracts students from all backgrounds. Through diverse perspectives, students are prepared to solve even the most pressing challenges and adapt to a complex future. In fact, as a leader in agricultural excellence, the University is poised to tackle the world's impending food insecurity by becoming a preeminent authority in food production and processing.
Fresno State is an R2 designated research institution, with a nationally renowned athletic department, a massive, widespread alumni community and a ferociously committed home-grown fan base, known as the Red Wave.
Fresno State Athletics sponsors 18 Division I sport programs and competes as a member of the Mountain West, with affiliate memberships with the Big XII (equestrian) and the Golden Coast Conference (water polo). The Bulldogs have a storied tradition of competitive excellence, including 29 conference championships in football, an NIT championship in men's basketball, and national championships in both baseball and softball.
ABOUT TIOGA-SEQUOIA
Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Company was founded in 2007 with the mission of producing world class beers that could bring awareness and resources to the preservation of the Southern Sierra Nevada mountains in California. Their beers reflect the greatness of the region they brew in, highlighting the beauty of the Southern Sierras that run along the Eastern side of the San Joaquin Valley.
Tioga-Sequoia planned their roots in Downtown Fresno in 2010 with a production brewery and taproom and has since brought new life and entertainment to their part of the community over the past 14 years. In 2020 the brewery became a 1% for the planet business member and contributes 1% of their gross annual revenue to regional environmental causes. Their efforts target areas within Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, Sierra National Forest through non-profit foundations and conservancies.
ABOUT LEARFIELD
Learfield is a diversified and influential media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield's presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors' Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.
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