Hubler Auto Group and Franklin Community Schools have reached an agreement on a 10-year, $250,000 advertising deal that will help cover athletic expenses at the high school.
Although school officials haven’t earmarked the money for specific purposes, it will likely go toward updating weight room equipment and team equipment, such as uniforms, balls and shoulder pads, Athletic Director Bill Doty said.
Under the agreement, Hubler will pay Franklin Community High School $25,000 each year starting this year and ending in 2028. In exchange, the school will display large banners advertising the group in prominent locations at the softball field, tennis courts, cross country course and baseball field. There will be lighted signage advertising Hubler on the press boxes for the soccer and football stadium, as well as the indoor fieldhouse, according to the contract.
Franklin High School will also advertise the auto group as the “Exclusive Car Dealer for Franklin Athletics,” in any official Franklin High School publications, such as team materials, rosters and schedules, according to the contracts
As part of the agreement, Franklin High School employees will get a discount of at least $1,000 off the online price of vehicles from Hubler, according to the contract.
Doty reached out to Hubler group with interest in a potential advertising deal, after Bradley Chevrolet had previously advertised with banners at the high school’s gymnasium and football field, Doty said.
“We’re looking forward to a great partnership with Hubler Auto Group,” Doty said. “They have Franklin ties and we’re appreciative of their gift to us for Franklin students.”
Other Johnson County school districts also have advertising deals. Center Grove Community Schools renamed their football stadium Ray Skillman Stadium in 2016 after the dealership paid $1.5 million to rename the facility for 50 years, $1 million of which went to covering the cost of new bleachers at the stadium.
Ray Skillman also agreed to pay Whiteland High School $500,000 over five years to help the school pay for upgrades to the school’s track and football field in exchange for the school displaying the company’s logo on signs in the gymnasium, at the band practice field and at the football field.
In 2011, Franklin schools agreed to an advertising deal with Johnson Memorial Hospital, which they named the exclusive sports medicine provider at the district. Under the agreement the hospital paid the district’s nurses as their own employees, saving Franklin schools between $200,000 and $250,000 per year in salary and benefits.
With the money from Hubler, Franklin High School will be able to continue to let students attend high school sporting events for free and spare parents the cost of the annual senior banner, Doty said.
“We wanted to do free admission for the high school students,” Doty said. “That benefits all of Franklin High School’s kids. We told Hubler Auto Group about it and they thought it was a good idea. It helps make it so all high school students can come to the event and support each other.”
