The Fall Sports season is just around the corner and Kenwood is ready to start the season with a brand new scoreboard. The best part of all, the school doesn't have to pay for any of it.
Last year, Kenwood got a new scoreboard on their football field. Kenwood's Athletic Director Derek Maki said he wanted to get another scoreboard but knew there was no way to fund it. Then he heard about a company that helps secure the funds.
"A salesman recommended Sports Image," Maki said.
Sports Image Inc. is a sports marketing firm out of Franklin, OH. After Maki made the call, the company was happy to provide the funding for another scoreboard. Ken Peterson, project manager of Sports Image, said the funds are raised through local advertising.
"I go out and secure the sponsors for the school," Peterson explained. Sports Image sold the vinyl banners on the Kenwood scoreboard to local advertisers to pay for the cost of installation. It would have cost Kenwood $10,000 - $12,000 without any sponsorship. While some schools don't have any outdoor scoreboards, Kenwood is adding their second. This scoreboard will be located on the soccer/lacrosse field.
"I think it is one of the best scoreboards in the county," Maki said about the football scoreboard.
Sports Image helps schools all over the country raise funds to pay for all different types of sports equipment. In addition to scoreboards, Sports Image has helped fund other athletic needs such as uniforms and other equipment, for uniforms and other equipment.
"No matter what kind of equipment they need, we can get it for them as long as we can get sponsors," Peterson said.
In the New England states, there are some schools where students have to pay a $300 - $400 fee to play sports. Peterson argues that if a great athlete can't afford to pay that fee and can't play, the loss of that athlete will trickle down to a loss at the collegiate and professionals sports levels. With the help of advertisers, Sports Image will be able to pay that fee for the athlete.
"We can help those athletes with the costs of fees and athletic equipment," he added. "We are like a bank. It doesn't matter how much the item costs as long as we have advertisers. We also try to keep the advertising costs low for the local advertisers."
Sports Image hopes to raise more money as it plans to sell vinyl signs in the Kenwood gymnasium for indoor sports. After a five-year period, the scoreboard will be paid off and the school can start collecting the revenue.
Kenwood is the first school in Baltimore County to use Sports Image, but Maki said he has contacted other ADs in the area and believes schools should take advantage of the opportunity.
"I think it is a pretty good deal," Maki stated. "We don't have to pay anything and they (Sports Image) take care of the advertising."
For more information about the program, go to www.sportsimageinc.com.