Down economy or not, the Indy Racing League sales staff is in overdrive. In the last week, IRL officials finalized four
new sponsorship deals.
First, IRL officials Thursday night (March 26) inked a deal with Hot Wheels. A big part of the pact was reaching distribution agreements with Walmart, Target and Toys R Us to sell the IRL replica cars and track sets nationwide. Hot Wheels will make a variety of replica cars, including traditional-sized Hot Wheels cars, larger 1/24th scale cars, a car with a computerized sound chip that makes various racing noises, and IRL slot car and track sets. There also will be a special line made for collectors.
“I just saw the display units, and they’re really, really well done,” Terry Angstadt, president of IRL’s commercial division, told IBJ Friday. “They’re phenomenal.”
The IRL licensed Hot Wheels products will hit the market in April, Angstadt said, with the full line available by July. Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indy 500 themed cars and track sets (which will include a yard of bricks) should be available in May.
The IRL also has recently signed leaguewide sponsorship deals with online travel agency Orbitz; DB Schenker, a California-based logistics provider; and the National Guard.
Meanwhile, the deal with Izod also is moving forward. On Friday, Angstadt said Vision racing will put Izod spokesman (and IRL driver) Ryan Hunter-Reay in a car for the entire season. Hunter-Reay lost his ride after last season, when his American ethanol sponsor pulled out of the series. And on Wednesday, IRL drivers Dan Wheldon and Tony Kanaan will appear at Macy’s in Clearwater, Fla. to help roll out the new Izod-IRL clothing line.
Angstadt said it’s been a big year for the IRL, and that sponsorship revenue is markedly up this year over last. He added that three new sponsors, Brazilian-based Apex (an ethanol provider), Hot Wheels and Izod will be three of the league’s five biggest spenders in terms of sponsorship activation. Honda and Firestone, Angstadt said, remain the top two activation spenders. Sponsorship activation means spending to promote the series through such things as billboard, print, TV and radio advertising and in-store and other promotions.
As for the series title sponsor, Angstadt is optimistic an announcement will be forthcoming some time during this season for a deal beginning in 2010.
Back to Top
IBJ Conversations
24 Comments
Add Comment
Now that that has been taken care of, good news for the IRL and glad TG put Hunter-Reay in a car so the IZOD promotion wouldn't fall flat on its face (entirely).
On a side note, did anyone else have to look at the name DB Schenker twice to make sure it was not Schrenker, the guy who tried to fake his own death? For the record, DB Schenker is a unit of Deutsche Bahn or German Rail. It is a major international rail, air and truck logistics company that is moving into the US. A deep pocketed sponsor, hope they spend a lot on the IRL.
What has the 'league' done, ever, to not deserve venom? It deserves that, and much worse.
Grate that 3 of the 5 'biggest spenders' (according to talkin' Terry, who lies a lot, still..) are all dang furrin companies, no? You have no problem with the abject hypocrisy of the 'league' and its foul 'leader' then. Unsurprising.
Dollar General's gonna be thrilled to have an influx of cheap discontinued product in October between Izod and Hot Wheels. :lol:
Does the track have a little grater? Do the mini-crapwagons have 'realistic launch-o-matic' action?
I'm pretty funny tonight.
So now it's 2010 for a title sponsor. Yep, just around the corner.
All these companies will learn the hard way. And every executive that allowed their company names to be soiled by associating their brands with the earl should be fired.
I got more venom where that came from. :coiledsnake:
On another note, why does it matter if the companies are american or foreign? Did TG ever say they were not going to have foreign companies as sponsors? In a day and age when the most American of series has a foreign auto plate running the circuit and one of its largest sponsors (Budweiser) is now foreign owned. Heck, with the intermarrying of companies, it is tough to tell what is American owned and what is not. Up until a few years ago, Chrysler was owned by the Germans.
That said, I actually am glad to see foreign companies spending money over here. Good for our economy and brings in much needed investment.
I haven't been to a collectors store in a long time. Does Onyx still make the 1/43 size cars?
Get over yourself, Stan. Your song and dance is getting old.
They like to make fun of drivers, owners, all of them and don't seem to care if they hurt or disturb anyone.
For every Stanton Barrett, there is a Guido Dacco, Randy Lanier, Dale Coyne, Marty Roth, Chip Ganassi, Tero Palmroth, Phil Krueger, etc.
One thing about Stanton: he has certainly shown a lot of persistence.
Now what is berwick's fav Gerber meal. I bet it's the reconstituted, pre-mashed, whIRLed and twIRLed, puke green peas
On another note, IZOD is really not getting on the good side of the tub-o-lard IRl gomers. Here's an example from a gomer forum:
My problem is that they never make anything in AJ's size. I am alot closer to AJ in size than I am to RHR.
Come on IZOD make some of that cool stuff in 3 and 4XL. Big people want to look cool too.
One suggestion you obese par for the course IRl fan: STOP EATING, k?
And don't forget the Tenderloin, Spam and Kool Aid logos!