Mac McDonald, the “Voice of the Cavaliers,” announced last Wednesday morning that, as of June 1, he will no longer be a regular on WINA 1070 AM’s morning show. Program Director Jay James says McDonald is leaving to focus on his duties at UVA sports, which will be expanding to include more personal appearances and Web duties. Sports Director Jed Williams will fill in at WINA for the interim.
Despite McDonald’s presence on WINA for the past 14 years, his actual employer has been Cavalier Sports Marketing (CSM) for at least eight of those years. Cavalier Sports Marketing is the company with which UVA contracts to handle its multimedia—including radio broadcasts, coaches’ shows, video production and corporate sponsorships. WINA contracted with CSM for a certain chunk of time from McDonald, who is the play-by-play radio broadcaster for men’s basketball and football. That contract expires June 1.
CSM’s contract with the University, worth $1.9 million in 2004-05 projected profits, also expires in June. UVA has still not awarded a new contract, despite issuing a request for proposals in September, with the stated hope of wrapping things up by January. “We’re in negotiations that are not without substance,” says Steve Heldreth of UVA procurement services. Heldreth won’t comment on specific bids.
Do McDonald’s expanding responsibilities mean that his employer, Cavalier Sports Marketing, is getting a renewed contract? They did submit a bid, according to Rich Klein, director of CSM’s parent company, CBS Collegiate Sports Properties (the company also handles multimedia rights for ACC rivals Maryland and Florida State, among others).
“Hopefully we will know soon,” says Klein. As for whether CSM is in negotiation, “that’s the part I’m not at liberty to talk about. I’d hope that our previous eight years of service show the quality job we do.” Certainly it would be embarrassing if his group did not get the contract: They recently opened corporate headquarters on 403 E. Market St.
As for McDonald’s expanded responsibilities with UVA, CSM General Manager Brock Petrie refuses to go into detail. “If we were to say anything about that, we’d be spoiling the surprise.” —Will Goldsmith