IRVINE, CA (October 8, 2020) – In an effort to increase brand exposure and generate incremental revenue to benefit the needs of its member institutions, the Big West Conference has entered into an agreement with CLC, the nation’s leading collegiate trademark licensing company, to manage the Conference’s trademark licensing program. Through this new partnership, the Conference will receive access to CLC’s extensive relationships with licensees and retailers, innovative consumer marketing programs, and brand protection services.

“We are proud of the Big West’s consistent academic and athletic excellence, and we want to ensure our branded merchandise reinforces that same level of quality that our institutions and fans demand,” said Dan Butterly, Big West Commissioner. “We look forward to working with CLC to develop a licensing strategy and marketing programs that will drive connections with our fans and meet the goals of our Conference and great member institutions.”

CLC’s efforts will center around assisting the Conference with developing a product strategy and identifying best-in-class licensees to partner on merchandise around all of its championship events. Additionally, CLC will work with the Conference to leverage its merchandise program to develop new brand marketing initiatives that can expand the reach of Conference beyond the traditional game-day experience.

The Big West Conference will also be able to leverage CLC’s national brand protection network to assist with trademark enforcement in and around its events, both in host cities and across the internet.

“CLC’s mission is to elevate college brands through insight and innovation, and we look forward to delivering on that mission for the Big West Conference,” said Cory Moss, CLC’s Executive Vice President and Managing Director. “The prominent institutions that make up the Big West Conference have a storied history of athletic and academic success, and we look forward to working with the Conference to provide the tools and resources to develop new opportunities that leverage that success for brand growth.”

The agreement is effective immediately and will run through 2027. CLC currently represents 10 of the 11 member institutions in the Big West Conference.

About the Big West

The Big West Conference is a member of NCAA Division I with 11 academically and athletically prominent institutions consisting of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; California State University, Bakersfield; California State University, Fullerton; California State University, Northridge; Long Beach State University; University of California, Davis; University of California, Irvine; University of California, UC Riverside; University of California, San Diego; University of California, Santa Barbara; and the University of Hawai‘i, Manoa.

For more information on this release, please contact:

Mike Villamor, Big West, 949.261.2525 x115 or mvillamor@bigwest.org

Tammy Purves, CLC, 770-799-3275 or tammy.purves@clc.com