• September 6, 2011

BMW of North America today has signed on as official luxury automobile of the Big Ten Conference. The agreement will run for the duration of the 2011-12 sports seasons covering football, men's and women's basketball, baseball and Olympic sports programs, per the company.

A Bimmer release says the automaker will create vehicle displays at select events and establish a "Preferred Parking Promotion" for BMW owners. People with BMW cars get reserved parking access for Big Ten events including the football championship game and men's basketball tournament.

BMW also gets signage and messaging at Big Ten arenas, in scoreboard promotions during live events including the football championship game, both men's and women's basketball tournaments and the baseball tournament and in commercial spots during televised events throughout the 2011-2012 college season.

The Big Ten sponsors 25 official conference sports, 12 for men and 13 for women and 298 teams with more than 9,500 student-athletes competing for Big Ten Championships.