McNeese athletics announced a $1.25 million sponsorship from Boudreaux’s New Drug Store Thursday, which will be paid out over the next five years.
As part of their agreement, the Boudreaux’s logo has been placed on both sides of Joe Dumars Court in the Legacy Center, and Boudreaux’s signage has been placed in various locations throughout the arena.
Jesse Vidrine, president and co-owner of Boudreaux’s, is a McNeese alum and said the partnership is a testament to their relationship with McNeese.
“Growing up in Southwest Louisiana, McNeese basketball has always been part of my life,” Vidrine said. “Some of my best memories are cheering on the Cowboys with my friends and family. To see the Boudreaux’s logo on the court is deeply emotional. It is a symbol of how far we’ve come as a company and how strongly we remain connected to home.”
This sponsorship adds to the list of lucrative deals brought in during the five-year tenure of McNeese’s vice president and athletic director Heath Schroyer. Over that time, Schroyer has signed several partnership deals worth more than $1 million, such as the $5 million partnership with local philanthropist Ryan Navarre over the now-namedNavarre Stadium, and the $2.5 million partnership with Lake Charles Memorial Health System in 2023.
Schroyer said he is not done. Schroyer and his team are looking into more partnerships for all athletic programs at McNeese, including deals similar to the one announced Thursday for both the football and softball fields, as well as the possibility of sponsorship spots on team uniforms.
“We have to continue to drive revenue, but we also have to win and continue to elevate our profile and our brand,” Schroyer said.
The Boudreaux’s logo will take the last available branding location on the court, as only two logos are allowed on the court other than the primary mid-court logo for the university. The other spot on McNeese’s court is occupied by the name of the court itself, Joe Dumars Court, in honor of Cowboy basketball’s most prominent alum.
“This is always going to be Joe Dumars Court, and he knows that,” Schroyer said.
