An economic dry spell may have corporate America praying for rain, but tough times have led to a bountiful year at the
Indiana State Fair. Two weeks before the fair’s Aug. 6 start date, corporate sponsorships were running 22 percent ahead of
2007, surpassing $1.5 million for the first time.
The Indiana Fever could spike this year. Ticket sales, sponsorship and the local buzz about the team are on the rise. But
perhaps most important, the Fever have key advocates in the Pacers Sports & Entertainment front office that the team simply
hasn’t had before.
The Indy Racing League will roll out category sponsorship deals with soft drink, energy drink and motor oil brands in the
next two months. IRL officials declined to divulge which companies the deals are with, but said each are multiyear, multimillion-dollar
deals.
