Efforts to land an Indy Racing League title sponsor have turned to 2010. Just two months ago, IRL officials said a deal
appeared imminent. In October, the economy stifled negotiations. Now, almost all hope is gone for landing a title sponsor
any time in 2009.
“Unless a miracle falls out of the sky, I don’t think we’re going to sign a title sponsorship deal for 2009,” said Zak Brown, president of Just Marketing International, which was hired by the IRL to lead the title sponsor hunt. “We’re still hammering away at it. We’re not going to stop working just because of the economy. But marketers are being very cautious with their budgets.”
In early September, Brown promised to land an IRL title sponsor by Jan. 1, and said an eight-figure annual deal “was on the doorstep.”
“I’m just glad I didn’t make a promise to run naked down the home stretch at Indy if the deal didn’t come through,” Brown said.
Subway restaurants, Kodak, William Rast clothier and two technology companies comprised the short list, sources close to the negotiations told IBJ in September.
Brown said sponsorship efforts across all sports have become exceedingly difficult since the economy began to tank this fall. “We’re still making some deals, we just made one in NASCAR, but it’s tough,” Brown said.
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Check your facts. The IRL has had title sponsors in the past.
Onion Gum, indeed.
NExt week wehn TOney GOrge gots his sister at his house for THAnksgiving I bet they wont mention much the sposner deal. THose girls will gther round that turky and thank TOney for saving openwheel racing liek he did. I Hope they have a grate THAnksgiving.
THe IRl now has more potental than any other series today. THAnsk to TOney. CARt never had so much potential as the IRl does. THAnks TOney. THAnks.
At least Zak has the dismal economy as an excuse. The 'league' and everyone associated with it are good at excuses, terrible at admitting it's a miserable worthless failure.
How soon will Iowa be off the schedule now that the earl is using dang furrin Brazilian ethanol to fuel the crapwagons? :lol: I'm sure a Brazilian street race on ReVersus will please the faithful few just fine as a replacement. :lol:
Here's the reality of this whole 'title sponsor' deal - it's stunning that any companies looked at it to begin with, but the ones that considered it, looked at what it offered, and decided it wasn't worth it. It's un-sellable garbage. And it isn't going to get any better, ever.
Does this REALLY surprise anyone??? :lol:
The EARL: An answer to a question nobody asked. :lol:
Versus' Davis said attracting a younger audience will make the network more attractive to advertisers and sports properties. The average age of Versus viewers dropped from 47 last year to 43 this year. That’s still older than the average age of ESPN viewers at 39.
He also was tapped by NASCAR to market the new NASCAR HoF. Not bad credentials for someone that Brett claimed was the Tony George of marketing, lots of empty promises but never delivers. But he is wrong with TG as well.
But who would expect facts like those to show that someone is successful?
Hysterical. Complete fiction. And you think we're supposed to take you seriously?
So Zak can sell Nascar during good economic times, big deal. You gonna be posting about how JM has an 800% contraction by later next year? :lol: It still doesn't mean he can sell the earl. It's un-sellable, putirid, worthless trash.
I'm sure he's laughing every time a check from FTG shows up though. So is Gene $immon$.
As far as BMW, their name has been bandied about here and on other blogs as having a deep interest in an IRL engine program. They just became a client of JM. I doubt they are going to advertise or run in NASCAR, so what other series is Zak deeply involved in?
You sound like those who said Zak was nuts to try to overturn the liquor ban in NASCAR. It would never happen, NASCAR is too family friendly for that. Well, don't tell that to Crown Royal, Jim Beam and Jack Daniels.
You killed CART with Bernie,Bill and your own families money.
This year could be the breakout year and why would you want some sponsor to get
your truly earned glory. You have a lot of powder oops i mean power and you can finally
show the racing world how smart you really are.
Keep up the excellent work.