Sept. 9, 2011
EVANSTON, Ill. - Discover and Northwestern Athletics announced today that they have reached an agreement making Discover the official card of the Northwestern Wildcats. Under the multi-year agreement, Northwestern is using Discover's support to enhance Ryan Field beautification efforts. In exchange, Discover will have a significant brand presence at Ryan Field and Welsh-Ryan Arena including signage and logos throughout each facility and Discover-branded items at ticket, concession and merchandise stands where credit cards are accepted on game day.
Teaming up with the Wildcats further demonstrates Discover's commitment to college football. The company is also title sponsor of the Discover Orange Bowl and has partnerships with the Big Ten Network, ESPN College Football and Notre Dame Football on NBC.
"Supporting Chicago's Big Ten Team right in our backyard helps a terrific athletic program continue to excel and support world-class student-athletes," said Jennifer Murillo, Advertising Director for Discover. "This is a great way to let Wildcat fans know they can use their Discover cards at Northwestern football and basketball games."
"Northwestern Athletics is proud to enter into a multi-year partnership with Discover," Northwestern University Department of Athletics and Recreation Director Jim Phillips said. "Discover is passionate about collegiate athletics and our relationship with them provides our fans with a convenient option to make purchases at both Ryan Field and Welsh-Ryan Arena."
The new banners on display at Ryan Field include a version that is 44 feet tall and features Northwestern Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald.
Additionally, Fitzgerald, a Discover cardmember himself, will be promoting Discover card as the official card of the Northwestern Wildcats during WGN and ESPN radio broadcasts of Northwestern football games.
About Discover
Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company operates the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers personal and student loans, online savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money market accounts through its Discover Bank subsidiary. Its payment businesses consist of Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit http://www.discoverfinancial.com.
About Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern University sponsors 19 varsity athletics programs. A charter member of the Big Ten Conference dating to 1896, 17 of the Wildcat sport programs compete in the Big Ten with women's lacrosse competing in the American Lacrosse Conference while women's fencing is a member of the Midwest Conference. Northwestern perennially ranks among the top 50 schools in the nation in the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup, paced by the 2011 women's lacrosse team's sixth national championship in the last seven years. Also of note, the football program has appeared in three straight bowl games while the men's basketball program also has advanced to postseason play each of the last three years. A total of 20 Wildcat student-athletes earned All-America accolades a year ago while 53 notched All-Big Ten distinction.
Off the field, Northwestern student-athletes excel in both the classroom and the community. The 19 programs combined to post a school-record 201 Academic All-Big Ten selections along with 51 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars and two ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americans last academic year. Northwestern student-athletes volunteered over 6,000 hours of combined community outreach in 2010-11.
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