SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Southern Conference announced today (May 12) that it has reached an agreement with Atlanta-based Career Sports & Entertainment (CSE) to serve as the league's marketing rights holder and media partner.  The two sides agreed on a three-year deal which will begin July 1 and run through the 2013-14 academic year. 

"We're very excited about the prospects of partnering with a successful company like CSE," said Southern Conference Commissioner John Iamarino.  "They have impressed us with their creativity, work ethic and firm belief in the value of the Southern Conference and its institutions.  We believe this will be a mutually beneficial relationship."

Under the terms of the agreement, CSE will manage all rights associated with marketing, championships, broadcasting, digital and new media.  CSE will also support the conference office through strategic consulting, analytics and branding initiatives.

"To have the opportunity to work with a property as steeped in tradition as the Southern Conference is a great privilege," said CSE Director, Property Consulting, Phil McCarn.  "We are excited to not only highlight the tremendous value proposition the Southern Conference and it's institutions bring to potential sponsors, but to use the new and evolving media landscape to properly showcase the Conference."

CSE, an independently owned sports and entertainment agency, has longstanding ties both nationally and regionally throughout the Southeast.  Additional property partners have included the New Jersey Nets, the STIHL^® TIMBERSPORTS^® Series, the Sun Belt Conference, Atlantic 10, Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans and New York Yankees. CSE celebrates 25 years of connecting brands with fans through integrated marketing, media content, sponsorship, talent management, experiential marketing, digital and retail into big campaigns that drive business.