Leo Portaluppi
Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. is entering a six-year sponsorship agreement with a local group of car dealerships.
The BCSC school board voted Monday to approve an agreement for Columbus Auto Group to be the school corporation’s exclusive auto sales and service advertiser for athletic events and facilities.
Communications Coordinator Josh Burnett confirmed that the agreement is just for BCSC athletics and does not encompass other programs.
According to Superintendent Jim Roberts, the agreement is a result of Columbus Auto Group’s commitment to contribute a total of $100,000 over the next six years to athletic programs at all BCSC schools.
“Those dollars are guaranteeing them that exclusive right to advertise with us,” said Roberts.
This includes digital advertisements on new scoreboards at Columbus East and North football stadiums, signage at BCSC athletic facilities, announcements at athletic events, printed advertisements in event programs, sponsor recognition on high schools’ athletic websites, and in-person marketing at events, with proper notice. The agreement does not include “messaging or artwork on any digitally streamed and/or broadcasted events.”
“It’s very similar to the agreement we’ve had with CRH (Columbus Regional Health) for 12 or 15 years now,” said Assistant Superintendent of Financial Services Chad Phillips. “They are the exclusive health care advertiser in all of our secondary facilities. In exchange, they provide athletic trainers for us and have for years.”
BCSC’s agreement with Columbus Auto Group will be in effect from now until May 15, 2028. The business has the option to provide notice at least six months in advance of that date if it wishes to renew the contract. The two parties would then enter negotiations for another agreement.
Board member Richard Stenner asked if the agreement will have any effect on where the school corporation purchases vehicles or receives auto service, and Roberts replied that it will not.
“We’ve been talking with Leo Portaluppi and Fred Armstrong over there for about a year about this agreement,” said Phillips. “And they made it very clear from the beginning — they don’t care if we ever purchase a vehicle from them or not. They want to partner with BCSC and really help our facilities and our athletic programs.”
School officials shared a video about the partnership on social media and said that Friday’s North vs. East football game marks its official launch.
