San Diego State University Athletics Unveils Alaska Airlines as New Partner to Enhance Fan Experience; Includes Snapdragon Stadium Gate Entitlement

The three-year deal, negotiated by JMI Sports, to feature a giant airplane replica at the entrance of the new state-of-the-art venue

San Diego, CA (April 17, 2024) – San Diego State University (SDSU) Athletics proudly announces a new partnership with Alaska Airlines, designating them as the official airline of SDSU Athletics and Snapdragon Stadium, and the entitlement partner of the southeast gate entrance at Snapdragon Stadium. As part of the three-year deal negotiated by JMI Sports, the entrance will feature a striking giant plane replica, symbolizing the dynamic collaboration between SDSU Athletics and Alaska Airlines. 

“We are excited about our new partnership with Alaska Airlines,” said SDSU Director of Athletics John David Wicker. “Snapdragon Stadium is a great venue for unique partnerships like this that can create value-added benefits for fans and brands alike. This new relationship will give Alaska Airlines cardholders a smoother and quicker entry through the southeast gate at all Snapdragon Stadium events, allowing more time to enjoy one of the top stadiums in the US.”

Alaska Airlines’ year-round presence at Snapdragon Stadium, a state-of-the-art facility, provides special benefits for fans. Those who hold Alaska Airlines Visa® cardholders and/or Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members using the airline’s mobile app will enjoy expedited entry through a dedicated lane at all Snapdragon Stadium events. This includes NCAA Football, National Women’s Soccer League, Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2025, international soccer, rugby, concerts and more. 

As the premier airline of the West Coast, Alaska Airlines offers the most nonstop destinations from San Diego than any other airline, which means enhanced travel convenience for fans and supporters attending games and events at Snapdragon Stadium. 

“We are thrilled to announce this partnership as part of our ongoing commitment to San Diego,” said Managing Director of Marketing and Advertising at Alaska Airlines Eric Edge. “Connecting with our guests at moments that deliver joy is something special – be it cheering on their college football team or catching their favorite band when in town. Each time that our Mileage Plan members and credit cardholders see Alaska Airlines at Snapdragon Stadium they know they’ll get a seamless entry experience as a ‘thank you’ for their loyalty.” 

JMI Sports facilitated this partnership. SDSU and JMI Sports entered into a 10-year multimedia partnership in July 2021 with the goal of developing valuable relationships with sponsors and generating new revenues to support San Diego State Athletics while enhancing the student-athlete and fan experience.

“This partnership marks an exciting chapter for both San Diego State University Athletics and Alaska Airlines,” said Senior Vice President of JMIS Properties Peter Thuresson. “We are thrilled about the possibilities this partnership brings and the positive impact it will have on fans and residents alike.”Video announcing the partnerships can be found here. For more information about JMI Sports, please visit jmisports.com.

ABOUT ALASKA AIRLINES

Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Mexico. We offer our guests a premium flying experience with award-winning customer service and an industry-leading loyalty program, Mileage Plan. With our fellow oneworld Alliance members and additional global partners, our guests have more choices than ever to purchase, earn or redeem on alaskaair.com across 30 airlines and more than 1,000 worldwide destinations. Learn more about Alaska at news.alaskaair.com and follow @alaskaairnews for news and stories. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group.  

ABOUT SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY

San Diego State University is a major public research institution that provides transformative experiences for its more than 36,000 students. SDSU offers bachelor’s degrees in 96 areas, master’s degrees in 84 fields and doctorates in 23 areas, with additional certificates and programs at regional microsites. SDSU ranks as the number 1 California State University in federal research support, as one of the top public research universities in California. In addition to academic offerings at SDSU, SDSU Imperial Valley and SDSU Georgia, SDSU Global Campus offers online training, certificates and degrees in areas of study designed to meet the needs of students everywhere. Students participate in transformational research, international experiences, sustainability and entrepreneurship initiatives, internships and mentoring, and a broad range of student life and leadership opportunities. SDSU is committed to inclusive excellence and is known for its efforts in advancing diversity and inclusion. SDSU is nationally recognized for its study abroad initiatives, veterans’ programs and support of LGBTQA+ students, as well as its powerhouse Division I Athletics Program. About 50% of SDSU’s undergraduate and graduate students are students of color. The university resides on Kumeyaay land and was most recently recognized as an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). SDSU is also a long-standing Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). The university’s rich campus life and location offers opportunities for students to lead and engage with the creative and performing arts, career and internship opportunities with SDSU’s more than 491,000 living alumni, and the vibrant cultural life of the greater San Diego and U.S.- Mexico region.

ABOUT JMI SPORTS

JMI Sports is a leading media rights and venue development company that provides management of collegiate multimedia rights, sponsorship sales agency representation, and project management expertise for the development of collegiate and professional sports facilities. The company serves to maximize each client’s economic potential through customized initiatives, from marketing and branding solutions to facility design strategies. 

JMI Sports’ signature collegiate multimedia rights partnerships include the University of Kentucky, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, Harvard University, DePaul University, Columbia University, San Diego State University, University of California at San Diego, and joint-venture properties of the University of Georgia (with Learfield), and University of Notre Dame (with Legends). JMI Sports also represents multimedia rights for several conferences, including the Ivy League, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Patriot League and the Atlantic 10, and serves as third-party sales representation for premier sports properties, venues and events, including the Breeders’ Cup, Clemson University, Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, and the Penn Relays. 

JMI Sports was founded in 2006 by CEO Erik Judson and technology entrepreneur John Moores, former owner of the San Diego Padres. To learn more, please visit www.jmisports.com.