GAINESVILLE, Fla. (October 17, 2024) – University of Florida Athletics and the Gainesville / Ocala BMW Dealers, the Proud Luxury Vehicle Partner of the Gators, have agreed to a multi-year extension of their partnership facilitated by Florida Gator Sports Properties, the locally based team of Learfield – the media and technology company powering college athletics.
The renewal marks the third consecutive year BMW will sponsor the popular BMW Broadcast Plaza, located outside of Gatorland Fan Fest. The vibrant hub on game days features music, a live broadcast of the Gators Sports Network pregame show, a BMW display, and a BMW enter-to-win sweepstakes for fans. This year, BMW collaborated with the University of Florida College of Arts and Graphic Design to invite students to design a BMW M3 car wrap, inspired by the Florida Gators, that will be on display throughout the season.
Following the five-week submission period, two finalists were selected to have their designs wrapped on M3 vehicles and displayed at the BMW Broadcast Plaza. Fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite design at 20242floridagatorscarwrap.eventsbmw.com until November 23. Fans who cast their vote will be entered into a sweepstakes for a chance to win an all-expense paid trip to the Gators Post Season Bowl game or a trip to the BMW Performance Center in South Carolina.
The student whose design receives the most votes will be awarded a $5,000 scholarship from BMW, and their wrapped car design will be featured at Gators home events the remainder of the 2024-2025 Athletic season. Each finalist will also receive a $250 gift card for Gators gear.
“The BMW Broadcast Plaza has become a game day tradition at Gators Fan Fest, enhancing the game day experience and now giving UF students a chance to gain some real world experience in an immersive learning opportunity,” said Steve McClain, University of Florida Athletics Senior Associate Athletics Director. “It’s exciting to see our partnership bring the Gator community together, with students actively participating in the design contest and fans voting for their favorite car wrap.”
“We are grateful for BMW’s continued support of the Gators over the past three years,” added Darren McPhail, General Manager of University of Florida Sports Properties. “Their commitment to the Gator community has been invaluable, and we are excited to further our relationship for years to come.”
Florida Gators Sports Properties is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Florida Athletics and oversees all sponsorship agreements on behalf of the Gators.
To view the designs of the two finalists, cast your vote, and find more information about the sweepstakes, fans can visit 20242floridagatorscarwrap.eventsbmw.com.
About the University Athletic Association, Inc
Originally incorporated in 1929, the University Athletic Association’s strategic purpose is to provide a championship experience with integrity on and off the field for student-athletes and the Gator Nation. The Gator athletic program supports 21 teams and more than 500 student-athletes, giving them the opportunity to compete at the highest levels of collegiate athletics, while receiving an education from a top-five public university. Florida is the only school in the nation to finish in the top-10 nationally in all-sports rankings in each of the last 40 years and has posted 15 consecutive top-five finishes. Florida has won a national championship in each of the last 15 seasons and boasts 48 championships overall. Florida leads all Southeastern Conference schools with 265 league championships and overall has 276 conference titles to its credit. The UAA commits nearly $17 million to fund scholarships for student-athletes, who posted a recent graduation success rate of 94 percent and a 3.33 GPA in the Spring of 2024.
About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.
