Belk Named Official Retail Department Store of Southeastern Conference

US department store Belk has announced its official sponsorship of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the SEC Network, a new multiplatform national network devoted to the conference and operated by ESPN.

With the new relationship, Belk will be the official retail department store of the SEC, giving the company exclusive access to all SEC championship events, including the SEC FanFare events held annually in conjunction with the SEC Football Championship Game and Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The new deal also gives Belk prime exposure on the forthcoming SEC Network, which will launch August 14, 2014 from the ESPN studios in Charlotte, N.C. The new network and its accompanying digital platforms will air SEC content 24/7 including more than 1,000 events in its first year.

“Our six-year  collaboration with the SEC Network will build upon the success we’ve seen with the Belk Bowl,” says Jon Pollack, Belk’s executive vice president of marketing, sales promotion and eCommerce. “We know that collegiate sports are an important part of the Southern lifestyle, and we are excited to further deepen our relationships with ESPN and the Southeastern Conference.”

“Belk’s support for the SEC Network combined with our cross-platform coverage will help us provide each of the 14 schools with unparalleled exposure across all local markets,” said Ed Erhardt, president of global customer marketing and sales at ESPN.