Quick Summary
Sponsoring the fall sports season with WIFM means reaching engaged local fans every day, not just on game nights. Here is what to know at a glance:
- The season runs from preseason build-up through the playoff push, creating a sponsorship window that lasts for months.
- WIFM sports programming includes live high school game coverage, the Bojangles' Sports Report, Sports Talk, and the weekly Student Athlete feature.
- Sponsorship ties your business to content fans genuinely trust, building community goodwill along with visibility.
- You can extend your message with radio spots, digital advertising, streaming, billboards, and time and temperature line ads.
- WIFM reaches fans across the Yadkin Valley, with primary coverage in Surry, Wilkes, and Yadkin counties and additional reach beyond.
The Fall Season Is More Than One Night a Week
It is easy to think of high school sports as a Friday night event, but the reality is a season that fills the entire week. Fans talk about the last game, look ahead to the next one, celebrate standout athletes, and follow scores across multiple sports. Each of those moments is a chance for your business to be part of the conversation.
WIFM covers this season the way the community lives it, with programming spread throughout the week. Our on-air team of Joel Hooper, Danny Hall, and Daron Atkins brings deep knowledge and a genuine love of local athletics to the microphone. Since 1998, WIFM has had the honor of covering 25 state championships live, and that experience shows in the way our team tells the stories of local teams and players. For a business, this means your sponsorship reaches fans well beyond kickoff, during the morning commute, on the lunch break, and on the drive home.
Where Your Business Fits: WIFM Sports Programming
WIFM produces several recurring features throughout the sports season, each offering a natural home for a local sponsor. These programs give businesses a consistent, familiar presence alongside content that fans already tune in for.
Here are the sports features that anchor our weekly coverage:
- Live high school sports coverage. Game broadcasts bring the action directly to fans across the coverage area, including the state championship runs our team is known for calling live.
- The Bojangles' Sports Report. Airing weekday mornings at 7:30, this recap covers scores, highlights, and stories of the great athletes and teams in the Yadkin Valley.
- Sports Talk. Wednesday evenings at 6:05, Joel Hooper recaps scores and stories, interviews coaches and players, and takes an in-depth look at the teams making a mark in the region.
- The Student Athlete feature. Each Wednesday morning at 7:30, Joel Hooper announces the Student Athlete of the week, presented by Tri-County Orthopedic and Sports Medicine, recognizing a local student who deserves the spotlight.
Businesses like Bojangles' of Jonesville and Yadkinville and Tri-County Orthopedic and Sports Medicine already understand the value of aligning their name with programming the community trusts. Program sponsorships like these create stronger connections with customers by tying a business to content that fans genuinely care about.
The Full Sponsorship Window
The most effective sports sponsorships treat the season as one continuous window rather than a series of separate game nights. When you plan for the whole arc, your business stays visible from the first snap of the season to the final whistle. Here is how that window typically unfolds.
- Preseason build-up. In the weeks before games begin, anticipation is high and fans are eager for news. Early sponsorship establishes your business as part of the season from the very start.
- Weekday features. Throughout the season, recurring segments like the Sports Report, Sports Talk, and the Student Athlete feature keep your business present every week, not just on game days.
- Game coverage. Live broadcasts put your message in front of engaged fans at the peak of their attention, when excitement and loyalty run highest.
- Playoff push. As teams advance, interest intensifies and audiences grow, extending the reach of a sponsorship that carries through the postseason.
- Season wrap-up. Recaps and end-of-season coverage give fans a reason to keep listening, and give your business a final, memorable presence before the offseason.
Committing to the full window means your business benefits from every stage of the season. Rather than appearing once and disappearing, your name becomes a familiar part of the local sports experience, which is exactly what turns listeners into loyal customers.
Why Sports Sponsorship Works for Local Businesses
Local sports radio holds a unique place in the community. Fans do not just tune in for scores. They tune in because they feel connected to their teams, their athletes, and the voices that bring the games to life. When your business is part of that experience, it inherits some of that goodwill.
Radio also reaches people at the right moments. In-car media, including radio, reaches 98 percent of U.S. residents aged 18 or older each month, and Americans spend nearly 20 hours in their cars each week. Radio advertising is often one of the last messages a consumer hears before making a purchase, and nearly three quarters of commuters shop on their way home from work. For high school sports sponsorship in NC, that timing places your business in front of fans as they head out to shop, dine, or run errands.
There is a personal quality here that is hard to replicate. Fans recognize the businesses that support their local teams, and many go out of their way to return that support. Sponsoring fall sports advertising in the Yadkin Valley is a way to show the community that your business believes in the people and programs that make this area special.
Advertising Options Beyond the Broadcast
A strong sports sponsorship often works best as part of a broader campaign. WIFM offers several ways to extend your message beyond the game broadcast so you can reach fans wherever they are.
Your options include:
- Radio advertising on 100.9 WIFM. Reach listeners across the coverage area with spots scheduled around your sponsorship.
- Digital advertising. Promote your business on our website home page and on our streaming live page for added visibility online.
- Online streaming. Reach fans who follow the season through our stream, extending your message beyond the broadcast signal.
- Billboard and in-car media. Pair radio with billboard placement to surround fans with your message during their daily drives.
- Time and temperature lines. Connect with the more than 120,000 callers each month who use our time and temperature lines in Mount Airy, Elkin, and Wilkesboro.
Combining a sports sponsorship with these options helps your message follow fans throughout their day. Whichever mix you choose, WIFM can help generate brand awareness and grow your business.
Reaching Fans Across the Yadkin Valley
WIFM is not tied to a single town. Our goal is to grow the communities we serve and bring customers to your business as far as our signal reaches and beyond. That regional reach means your sports sponsorship connects with fans across a wide and connected area.
Our coverage area includes:
- Primary coverage in Surry, Wilkes, and Yadkin counties
- Additional reach into Alleghany, Ashe, Davie, Forsyth, Iredell, and Stokes counties
- Partial coverage extending into Virginia
- Online streaming that reaches listeners anywhere
For a business hoping to draw fans and families from surrounding towns, that broad footprint can make a real difference throughout the fall season.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start a fall sports sponsorship?
The best time to begin is before the season starts, during the preseason build-up when anticipation is high. Starting early establishes your business as part of the season from the beginning and lets you benefit from the full sponsorship window through the playoffs.
What sports programming does WIFM offer?
WIFM provides live high school sports coverage along with recurring features such as the Bojangles' Sports Report, Sports Talk, and the Student Athlete of the week presented by Tri-County Orthopedic and Sports Medicine. These programs run throughout the week, giving sponsors a presence beyond game nights.
What types of businesses benefit from sports sponsorship?
Any local business that wants to connect with engaged community members can benefit, from retailers and restaurants to service providers and healthcare practices. Sports sponsorship works especially well for businesses that value community goodwill and want to be recognized as local supporters.
Can I combine a sponsorship with other advertising?
Yes. Many advertisers pair a sports sponsorship with radio spots, digital advertising on our website and streaming page, billboard placement, and time and temperature line ads. Combining these options helps your message reach fans throughout their day.
How do I get started with WIFM?
The easiest way to begin is to reach out and tell us about your business and your goals. You can contact our team through our contact page, and we will help you build a sponsorship plan for the season ahead.
Be Part of the Whole Season
Do not limit your presence to Friday nights. Be there for the practices, the weekday features, the standout athletes, and the postseason drama that fans follow all season long. Visit our contact page to start planning your fall sports sponsorship with 100.9 WIFM, The Place to Be in the Yadkin Valley.