Southwest Airlines has announced that it will become the “Official Airline of the SEC” beginning July 1. This partnership is part of a new, multi-year sponsorship agreement.
As part of the deal, Southwest has established new routes and additional services surrounding several “SEC-centric showdowns,” including USC vs. LSU in the Vegas Kickoff Classic, Alabama at Wisconsin in Week 3, Tennessee at Oklahoma in Week 4, and Georgia at Texas in Week 8.
“Southwest Airlines is proud to be joining the SEC roster as the airline of choice and getting sports fanatics to their favorite games with ease,” said Jennifer Bridie, Vice President Marketing Communications & Strategy at Southwest Airlines. “SEC fans have been flying with us for decades, checking two free bags of gear, rescheduling road games without fees, and saving flight credits for the year their team finally makes it to the championship.”
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“With this unique opportunity, we’re giving fans more flexibility to join the action as they root for their favorite teams and bringing them new opportunities throughout the season to get to know the Southwest Brand even better.”
According to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, the partnership will be increasingly beneficial for the conference as it expands.
“The SEC is pleased Southwest Airlines has joined our official sponsor program,” said Sankey. “The SEC sponsor program is important to the mission of supporting our now 16 institutions and Southwest Airlines makes stronger an already robust family of sponsors for the Conference.”
“We look forward to Southwest Airlines’ participation in our programming and championship events.”
To celebrate the sponsorship launch, Southwest is hosting the Flex Your Fandom Sweepstakes, offering entrants the chance to be treated like an MVP with an opportunity to win a getaway experience to the SEC Football Championship.
Later this year, the airline will host additional sweepstakes to award prizes, including packages to the SEC Basketball Championship tournament, and a summer getaway.
To learn more and to enter, visit southwestsecsweepstakes.com.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
