Washington Interscholastic Activities Association forms partnership with marketing company

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) and Home Team Marketing (HTM) announced a three-year partnership agreement, with HTM taking on the role of official marketing representative for the association.

The WIAA oversees athletics and fine arts in Washington state and hosts 83 WIAA state championship events for the following sports and activities:  Baseball, basketball, girls bowling, cheerleading, cross country, dance & drill, debate, drama, football, golf, gymnastics, music, softball, swimming & diving, soccer, tennis, track & field, volleyball and wrestling.

HTM is the nation’s leading high school sports marketing company, according to a March 8 WIAA media release. HTM will lead the efforts to increase funding opportunities for the association through corporate sponsorship.

The WIAA receives funding from tickets sales for state tournaments and other events, sponsorships, membership fees and a percentage of merchandise sales. Because the association doesn’t receive any financial support from either tax dollars or the State of Washington, enhancing potential for revenue opportunities is crucial to its ability to support high school activities.

“Home Team Marketing is proud to be associated with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. The association works effectively to assist member schools in operating student programs that foster achievement, respect, equity, enthusiasm and excellence in a safe and organized environment,” said Peter Fitzpatrick, President and Co-Founder of Home Team Marketing.

“The WIAA is excited to be working with Home Team Marketing because of their extensive experience and strong reputation of successful collaboration with other state associations around the country,” said WIAA Executive Director Mike Colbrese. “We believe the partnership will help the association continue to diversify its revenue sources and stabilize funding in order to continue to support the WIAA member schools.”

The WIAA is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) service organization and rule-making body that was formed in 1905 to create equitable playing conditions between high school sports teams in Washington. The association consists of nearly 800 member high schools and middle/junior high schools, both public and private, and is divided into nine geographic service districts. The state staff administers association policies, rules and regulations and provides other assistance and service to member schools.

Home Team Marketing provides integrated marketing and multimedia solutions for corporate partners and revenue generating opportunities for individual high schools, state high school athletic associations, and other school based activities. Home Team Marketing, which opened in 2001, has offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City and Washington D.C.

HTM has access to over 10,000 high schools nationwide and works with four of the top five largest state associations in the country. HTM serves as the official marketing arm for 21 state associations. Fifty percent of all advertising revenue goes back to HTM’s partner schools.

To date, a total of $12.5 million has gone back to schools. HTM was named a finalist in Sports Business Journal’s “2011 Sports Business Award” in the category of “Best in Property Consulting, Sales and Client Services.”