PAYSON - The Arizona State athletic department plans to monetize its brand, but is taking its time in doing so, according to athletic director Graham Rossini. Rossini spoke to the media as the Sun Devils warmed up for their annual scrimmage at Camp Tontozona on Aug. 15. Among the topics was the chance to put advertising on the school's jerseys for multiple sports. The subject has been a hot topic since the Big 12 announced Monster Energy as a conference sponsor for football along with men's and women's basketball. That sponsorship will not interfere with schools drawing their own sponsors. Notre Dame reached a multiyear deal with SoFi Technologies that will place the financial services company's brand on the school's jerseys in every sport, while Ohio State reached a deal with JPMorgan Chase. The institution will reportedly pay Ohio State $17 million a year in exchange for having its logo on jerseys for the university's 36 sports teams.
Rossini said ASU is in the information-gathering stage, trying to determine which advertising partner works best. "We're excited about the Big 12 sponsorship. That's separate from the jersey patch," he said. "We're still marketing and promoting the opportunity for a jersey patch. We're not going to do it just to do it. We've talked to partners where there is great alignment with the university, not just the jersey patch. "There are some incredible opportunities within football and at Desert Financial Arena. We don't need to do it. It's about maximizing the opportunity. We're hard at work. When we find the right opportunity, we'll be ready to move on that." Among other topics, Rossini addressed facility issues. The football team spent four days in Arizona's high country at Camp Tontozona, located about 20 miles northeast of Payson. The camp's accommodations have been an ongoing issue. The artificial turf field, which was installed in 2019, has taken a beating. Coach Kenny Dillingham changed up the team's schedule so it would not have back-to-back physically tough days on the surface. Rossini said since the team uses it just a few days of the year, it isn't a priority. "It serves its purpose. The outdoor, uncomfortable dynamic is part of the goal. It's about guys getting out of their comfort zone. It's not as much about the bells and whistles of the facility. So we haven't spent a lot of time on that," he said. Major renovations are continuing at Desert Financial Arena, and the construction of a new indoor football facility is front and center. "We're on track for a fall groundbreaking (for football)," he said. "There's a lot of collaboration going on throughout the university on the football-volleyball practice facility. Still fine-tuning some fundraisers, some details, but the plan is to break ground this fall. At some point, we'll have renderings we plan to show. "We'll probably have Desert Financial Arena and those plans to show first. The football-volleyball facility would follow shortly after that. But hard at work. Really good collaboration, incredible design coming together."
As far as other facilities, Rossini said conversations are still ongoing about relocating the track and tennis facilities. He added there is potential financial benefit for ASU athletics with the development of the Novus Innovation Corridor at the main Tempe campus. Rossini added the buildup to football season has been heightened by the Sun Devils playing in the Union Jack Classic against Kansas in London's Wembley Stadium on Sept. 19. He said the school is up to about 9,000 tickets sold for that game, after selling out its initial allotment of 6,000. It will be the first college football game played in London. "We can't wait to get to London," he said. "Incredible opportunity. The closer it gets, the more we recognize the significance of the game there. We get to set the stage for college football and what it will look like there. Everywhere you go, there are fans talking about their trips and what they're doing before London, going to Ireland or Scotland to golf, going on Mediterranean river cruises. In true Sun Devil fashion, people are taking advantage of the opportunity." This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State AD still eyes sponsor, 'can't wait' for London game