Hardee’s Continues as “Official Quick Service Restaurant” of Big South Conference for Third Consecutive Year
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Sept. 23, 2014) – The Big South Conference and the country’s largest Hardee’s® franchise have renewed their corporate sponsorship agreement in which Hardee’s continues as the “Official Quick Service Restaurant” and “Official Chicken Tender Tailgate Partner” of the Big South Conference for a third consecutive year. Hardee’s franchisee Boddie-Noell Enterprises has partnered with the Big South Conference since 2012. The two-year extension features several new elements including the sponsorship of the new Hardee’s Big South Shout-out video highlight feature, a mascot-themed Conference wide basketball promotion and exposure during the Conference’s new regional television package with the American Sports Network.
To kick off the third year of the partnership in 2014-15, Hardee’s once again is recognized as a presenting sponsor of the Big South Fall Campus Tour. Students at all 11 Big South member institutions can receive discount cards and giveaways including school branded sunglasses. Hardee’s restaurants in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia are offering Big South students who show a student discount card a free small Natural Cut French Fries and beverage with the purchase of any Thickburger®.
In addition to the tour, the partnership includes many other exciting initiatives and promotions. Hardee’s will show its school spirit during the basketball season with a special mascot competition featuring Big South Conference mascots and the Hardee’s Happy Star which will culminate at the VisitMyrtleBeach.com Men’s and Women’s Big South Basketball Championship in March. Hardee’s will also receive in-game spots and featured elements during the League’s football and basketball television packages with ESPN and the American Sports Network. In addition, Hardee’s will continue to be recognized as a contributing partner of the Big South Network which is scheduled to air over 800 live events in 2014-15.
Hardee’s will present the Hardee’s Big South Shout-Out, a bi-weekly video feature that will include Big South Conference highlights from all sports throughout the year. The feature will be housed on the homepage of the Big South Conference website (www.BigSouthSports.com) and will be distributed via social media outlets and shown on school video boards throughout the year.
“The Hardee’s brand got its start in North Carolina and Boddie-Noell calls Rocky Mount home, so we’re thrilled to be a part of the Big South Conference,” said Jerry Allsbrook, chief marketing officer and senior vice president of Boddie-Noell Enterprises, Hardee’s largest franchisee. “We value and respect high standards of excellence, leadership and teamwork in all our restaurants and also on the playing field. And since many of our restaurants are located in the communities and neighborhoods of Big South campuses, fans will be able to take advantage of special offers for conference supporters.”
“The Big South Conference is grateful for Hardee’s ongoing support. With all the new elements included in the partnership, the 2014-2015 year will be a lot of fun,” said Kyle B. Kallander, commissioner of the Big South Conference. “Hardee’s and the Big South are a great fit as both brands call the southeast their home, and value quality. We are pleased to have a partner in Hardee’s whose brand is so well-respected in the industry and throughout the Southeast. Hardee’s support for our student-athletes helps us achieve our goal of Developing Leaders Through Athletics.”
For more information on the Big South Conference, visit: http://www.bigsouthsports.com/.
About the Big South Conference
Founded in 1983, the Big South Conference has matured into a competitive leader in college athletics, actively pursuing excellence on the field of play and in the classroom. For more than 30 years, the League’s growing presence as an NCAA Division I athletic conference is evident by athletic accomplishments on the national stage, innovative marketing and media partnerships, increased television packages and quality athletic competition while intentionally fostering the academic, personal, social, athletic and leadership development of its student-athletes. Comprised of 11 member institutions sharing a common geographic region and similar academic values and purposes, the Big South Conference’s institutions — Campbell University, Charleston Southern University, Coastal Carolina University, Gardner-Webb University, High Point University, Liberty University, Longwood University, Presbyterian College, Radford University, UNC Asheville and Winthrop University — have a remarkable history of achievement through the League’s 19 championship sports in addition to the academic success of its more than 4,000 student-athletes. The Big South Conference: Developing Leaders Through Athletics.
About Boddie-Noell Enterprises
With over 50 years success as a proud Hardee’s franchise operator, family-owned Boddie-Noell Enterprises is the largest Hardee’s franchise operator in the United States with 334 restaurant locations in four states. The company is based in Rocky Mount, N.C. For more information, visit www.bneinc.com.
