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June 28, 1999
PORTLAND - The Northwest Dodge Dealers, in conjunction with Beaver Sports Properties and ESPN Regional/Oregon Sports Network, have reached agreement with the University of Oregon and Oregon State to serve as the title sponsor for the schools' Civil War series, according to a joint announcement by directors of athletics Bill Moos and Mitch Barnhart.
The unprecedented marketing pact is intended to increase the regional exposure for the intrastate rivalry, which originated with the first football game between the two schools in 1894, as well as generate additional revenue for the two athletic departments.
Terms of the agreement is for four years, extending through the 2002-03 academic year, and is expected to generate in excess of $1.4 million between the two schools.
The deal will cover the sponsorship of all intercollegiate athletic competition between the two institutions in nine sports, encompassing football, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's golf, women's soccer, softball, volleyball and wrestling. In exchange, the intrastate competition now will be referred to as the "Civil War presented by your Northwest Dodge Dealers".
"The Northwest Dodge Dealers are happy to sponsor the Civil War between the University of Oregon and Oregon State University," said Lawton Verger, a member of the Northwest Dodge Dealers' board of directors. "We feel this is a healthy rivalry that may not receive as much attention beyond the borders of the state as it deserves, and wish to promote the spirit of the competition within the framework of cooperation. We look forward to a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship."
The first event which will take place under the new agreement is a women's volleyball match between the Ducks and Beavers Oct. 8 in Corvallis. This year's football game will be held Nov. 20 in Eugene, while the men's and women's basketball games are scheduled for the weekends of Jan. 7-8 as well as March 10-11.
The agreement will include radio and television promotions along the schools' broadcasting networks as well as other media outlets as designated by the institutions' marketing partners, in addition to advertisements at the site of all Civil War events.
"We are very appreciative of the Northwest Dodge Dealers' support of this great traditional rivalry," Barnhart said. "The competition between the Beavers and Ducks certainly provides great fan excitement and we are thrilled to have Dodge showcase it on a regional basis."
The football series between the Ducks and Beavers remains one of the oldest rivalries in the country and is unsurpassed in length west of the Rocky Mountains. Only seven series nationally have extended longer than the 102 meetings between the two schools, with the stretch of games remaining uninterrupted since 1945.
"The University of Oregon is excited about the Northwest Dodge Dealers' sponsorship of the Civil War," Moos added. "Their desire to promote athletic competition between Oregon and Oregon State will not only help the exposure of the great rivalry but also the many accomplishments of our fine universities."
It's not the first time the two athletics departments have cooperated with one another in a joint venture. Oregon and Oregon State co-hosted the Far West Classic men's basketball tournament in Portland for 36 years from 1960-96.
The Northwest Dodge Dealers, who are committed to supporting higher education and collegiate athletics, consist of 32 locations throughout Oregon.
