CCCAA approves sponsorship representation partnership with Steel Curtain

SACRAMENTO – Opportunities to give potential sponsors more visibility among the California Community College Athletic Association’s 110 member institutions while also generating new sources of revenue for the organization are the primary goals of a new partnership announced between the CCCAA and Steel Curtain U on Thursday.

Steel Curtain U, the college sports division of Steel Curtain Consulting, serves as a sponsorship development resource for nearly 20 conferences and associations at the NCAA Div. I, II and NAIA levels. The multi-media rights and sponsorship representation agreement is the first ever for the CCCAA, which is also the first two-year association added to Steel Curtain’s portfolio.

“We’re an almost blank canvas when it comes to sponsorships and Steel Curtain U is the right partner to help us paint it,” said Jennifer Cardone, Interim Executive Director. “We believe we have a lot to offer potential sponsors and with Steel Curtain’s experience and resources, we feel they’re the perfect match.”

Darin David, President of Steel Curtain Consulting, echoed those thoughts.

“We're excited to be partnering with CCCAA, which is a powerhouse organization in college sports,” he said. “The CCCAA has a rich history of Hall of Fame talent and an amazing aggregation of colleges throughout the state of California. There is a wealth of engagement opportunities across championships, media, and promotion with millions of students and alumni. The brand and marketing opportunities are immense and untapped. 

“The CCCAA is a sleeping giant in the sponsorship space and we plan to pursue possibilities that will help change that.”

Steel Curtain U is based in Dallas, Texas, and works to integrate brands on the national, regional and local levels to drive revenue for small college governing bodies. Among the NCAA Div. II conferences it partners with in the western United States are the California Collegiate Athletic Association, Great Northwest Athletic Conference, and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. It also partners with The Summit League (Div. I) and Golden State Athletic Conference (NAIA).

The CCCAA is comprised of 110 colleges, stretching 670 miles from within 30 miles of the Oregon border (College of the Siskiyous) to just 10 miles from the California border with Mexico (Southwestern College). Approximately 24,000 student-athletes compete for 25 championships across 15 different men’s and women’s sports.

Among the CCCAA’s notable alums are Shirley Babashoff (Three Olympic gold medals in swimming), Flo Hyman (Olympic volleyball), Jackie Robinson (MLB), Aaron Rodgers (NFL) and Tom Seaver (MLB).

The agreement between the CCCAA and Steel Curtain U was approved by the CCCAA Board of Directors at its February meeting.

For more information on Steel Curtain U, contact President Darin David at ddavid@steelcurtainconsulting.com.