Fans of Coastal Carolina football can show their support this season with their choice of beer.
Coastal is one of 28 teams across the country being featured on limited edition Bud Light cans, which is an increase of two teams from a similar campaign in 2024.
CCU's athletic director Chance Miller said with momentum of CCU athletics, Coastal鈥檚 growing student body and growing community of Horry County, the university is ramping up the external efforts with marketing and social media presence.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 hurt that when you make a run to the College world series game and into the championship, all the people get to see our brand on TV,鈥 Miller said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to be a major player in college athletics moving forward. When sponsors and donors and people that support you see that, people want to be a part of it.鈥
Miller said the university鈥檚 relationship with Southern Crown Partners has played a huge role in securing activations, sponsorships and overall enhancing the fan experience.
鈥淭hey came to us, pitched the idea and we really liked it. [We] thought this is a good thing for our brand to be able to put teal out. We鈥檝e got such a unique school color that people will recognize it,鈥 Miller said.
The CCU cans are adorned with CCU鈥檚 teal, white and black colors, the Chanticleers' logo and jersey-inspired stripes. All the concession stands selling alcohol at Brooks Stadium will offer the teal cans. They are also available at gas stations, grocery stores and other convenience stores in Horry County, while supplies last. The collaboration will be restocked throughout football season.
鈥淚t took off on us, people really like it. They鈥檙e trying to find them everywhere,鈥 Miller said. 鈥淚 think when we first put it out I probably got about 100 calls and text messages asking where they could get it. So, we were trying to track it down and it almost became a game with our fans of who could find it. Once they found it, they put it out on social media and I think stores really like it.鈥
CCU reaps some financial benefits from licensing rights with the collaboration and sponsorship dollars from Southern Crown, according to Miller. Companies pay a licensing fee anytime Coastal鈥檚 marks of teal and the mascot Chauncey are used, proceeds that are shared among athletics and the university.
Upon entering Brooks Stadium there will also be 鈥淒rink Responsibly鈥 signage in addition to messaging that will go out throughout the game on the video board and ribbon board. Miller said he is confident the academics at Coastal are not jeopardized by the Bud Light collaboration.
鈥淲hen you look at the resources they鈥檙e putting into academics and the hands-on teaching that they鈥檙e doing, the academics are just going to keep getting better. But that doesn鈥檛 mean that you can鈥檛 have a good time while you鈥檙e at college as well,鈥 Miller said. 鈥淚 think you can have both. I don鈥檛 think this hurts it. I think it鈥檚 just a way to get our teal brand out there.鈥
There are exciting new additions and potentially traditions coming to CCU football games and Miller said they are working with the student body government on creative ways to keep students engaged in the stands through the fourth quarter.
There will be a drone show at the first home game against Charleston Southern with 350 drones in the sky moving to the music of CCU鈥檚 marching band. New lights will be installed by the third home game against the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks. Pyrotechnics will be employed throughout the games this year in addition to the motorcycles鈥 entrance.
And Miller said they鈥檝e got some new cheers and chants to rally the spirits of the student section.
鈥淚f all 6,000 of them get into it, it's going to be pretty electric in there,鈥 Miller said. 鈥淐ome out to a game this year. If you鈥檙e a ticket purchaser you鈥檙e going to get free concessions, unlimited. We did roll that out for the fans to give them an additional benefit for them to come in.鈥
Each teal can also includes a QR code that gives fans access to content and opportunities to win tickets to a game of their choice, Fanatics merchandise, apparel gift cards, and a meet and greet with comedian Shane Gillis.
Gillis is starring in a new Bud Light commercial campaign related to college football that is airing on ABC, NBC, ESPN and FOX.
鈥嬧婣ccording to Bud Light, they have cans representing the following schools:
Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Coastal Carolina, Florida, Georgia Southern, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, Missouri State, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Sam Houston State, San Diego State, Texas Tech, Texas, UTSA and Texas Rio Grande Valley.
鈥淲e appreciate Southern Crown doing that for us," CCU head football coach Tim Beck said. "Boy that鈥檚 a game-changer as well. It鈥檚 all the things, just being innovative from the administration standpoint to be able to see that and to act on it. You have to act on those. There鈥檚 a lot of really cool things and we continue to grow our program into that.鈥
A CCU sports bar might also receive a visit sponsored by Bud Light featuring former college players including 鈥淏ussin鈥 With The Boys鈥 hosts Will Compton and Taylor Lewan. At the pop-up events, fans can compete various football-related contests in Bud Light鈥檚 Football Face-Off Tournament for an opportunity to win tickets to the Super Bowl.
(4) comments
With college football compensation and NILs this is one of the revenue streams and a great opportunity for income generating along with the advertising potentials for recognition of CCU.
Not a good way to support CCU. Feature on a sift drink or water or anything sober. Not alcoholic beverages.
No way
Nope....
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