Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) and PNC Financial Services Group, cialis Inc. have formed a strategic sponsorship for the 2013 race season.

The relationship, which includes assets across the CGRT’s IndyCar, NASCAR and Grand-AM programs, will be focused around key motorsports events for each series in the Indianapolis market.

“It is always great when a highly respected company like PNC values the reach of motorsports and makes it part of their marketing mix,” said Chip Ganassi, owner, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams. “Personally, I’ve been a PNC customer for many years and know first-hand what a great bank and a great team they have. We could not have asked for a better alignment with our race teams.” 

The agreement includes PNC serving as host for a special ‘Business of Indiana Motorsports’ event for customers, community leaders and media on May 10 at the CGRT Indianapolis race shop which will focus on the economic impact of racing on the state of Indiana.

Taking part in the panel will be industry experts including Chip Ganassi, Mark Miles, CEO, Hulman & Co., and Tom Weisenbach, Executive Director, Indianapolis Motorsports Association, while CGR drivers will provide perspective on the Indianapolis 500, one day prior to the beginning of a month of festivities at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that culminates with the Greatest Spectacle in Racing – the 97th Indianapolis 500.

“What better way for PNC to show its leadership in Indianapolis than to support Chip Ganassi Racing Teams and be part of some of the most thrilling, racing events in the world,” said Connie Bond Stuart, PNC Regional President in Central Indiana. “Our innovative approach to the sponsorship also allows us to enhance local early childhood education with new learning opportunities, instilling excitement in future generations with science and math concepts applied to racing.”

TCC Materials Akona brand has extended its sponsorship deal with the 2013 Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) Racing Series presented by Menards event at Elko Speedway.

TCC Materials Akona brand of concrete repair products will be the race title sponsor the ARCA’s second visit to Elko Speedway on Saturday, June 1, 2013.

“We are looking forward to working in partnership with Menards to sponsor the second Akona race to be held at Elko Speedway,” said Brian DiGrado, Marketing & Business Development Manager of TCC Materials/Akona. “This exciting venue gives us an excellent opportunity to highlight our Akona brand of concrete repair products, which are manufactured locally in Minnesota and are available at Menards stores across the region.”

ARCA’s first-ever visit to Minnesota in 2012 saw the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards invade the 3/8 mile Elko Speedway. A near capacity crowd witnessed Venturini Motorsports development driver Brennan Poole capture the checkered flag in a lightning-quick 200 lap event which took an hour to complete.

Series officials, along with Track Enterprises president Bob Sargent, decided to extend the 2013 version of the Akona-sponsored race event by 50 laps, much to the delight of drivers and fans.

“We’re fortunate to have a corporate sponsor in Akona help bring the ARCA Racing Series back to Elko Speedway,” said Bob Sargent of Track Enterprises, the company which also promotes races at the Illinois State Fairgrounds and the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.

“We’re looking to make the Elko event an annual stop on the ARCA schedule and feel adding 50 laps to the race will make it just that much more exciting,” Sargent added. “In addition, we have some other pretty cool things planned for the first Saturday in June.”

Akona’s involvement with ARCA is part of a business-to-business vendor program with series presenting sponsor Menards. The manufacturer joins Ansell, Kimberly-Clark and Herr’s, all companies who connected in-store presence at Menards to participation in the ARCA Racing Series through marketing relationships, contingency programs, and race sponsorships.

“Menards had asked ARCA to consider an event in the Minneapolis area for several years, as it’s the second-largest retail market in their footprint,” said Mark Gundrum, vice president for ARCA. “A combined effort by ARCA, the track, event promoter Track Enterprises, and Menards, to introduce Akona as a vendor partner allows this to happen again this summer.” The Akona 250 race is scheduled as the sixth of 21 races in ARCA’s 2013 season.

In a big blow to the UCI Pro team, RadioShack will no longer title sponsor the Leopard team according to reports.

According to the French sports newspaper L’Equipe, the company has cited financial losses and a desire to target Asian markets as the reasons for the decision.

Doping scandals surrounding the team are also thought to have contributed, with the exposure of Lance Armstrong as a cheat last autumn being swiftly followed by Frank Schleck’s ban for a failed test at last year’s Tour de France.

It will be the second season in succession that the team has suffered a sponsorship setback, after Nissan asked for their name to be withdrawn from the title at the end of the 2012 campaign..

RadioShack initially became a UCI WorldTour sponsor in 2010 when they backed a new team being built around Armstrong and manager Johan Bruyneel.

 

New York Mets have announced today a multi-year partnership with Hyundai for naming rights to the Hyundai Club, an all-inclusive premium seating area at Citi Field.

The Hyundai Club, formerly known as the Champions Club, is located on the field level behind home plate with its 660 seats spanning to the dugouts.  The all-inclusive gourmet buffet includes a daily chef selection of carved meats and pasta and unlimited non-alcoholic beverages.  A selection of peanuts, popcorn, fresh baked cookies and ice cream are also available.

Hyundai will have the exclusive right to showcase one of its vehicles on the Field Level concourse in front of the club for all 81 games.

The multi-year agreement is an expansion of a partnership that began last year with an outfield sign.

“We are proud to grow our relationship with Hyundai to including branding rights for one of the premiere seating locations at Citi Field,” said Dave Howard, Executive Vice President Business Operations. “Hyundai is the latest partner to join us for what will be an exciting All-Star season for Mets fans.”

“Citi Field provides a great venue to showcase an award-winning Hyundai line-up that continues to get even stronger,” said Ken Bloech, General Manager for Hyundai Motor America’s Eastern Region. “Over the course of the season, we look forward to having Mets’ fans enjoy games from the comfort of the Hyundai Club. We’ll also be displaying a range of vehicles from an all-new, three-row Santa Fe that’s perfect for families to a redesigned Equus sedan that delivers a higher level of refinement for the luxury segment.”

Brazilian soccer giants, Santos has agreed a short-term shirt sponsorship deal with the Brazilian arm of Chinese automotive company Chery.

Under the deal Chery Brasil will be Santos’ main shirt sponsor for three rounds of the Sao Paulo state championship. The partnership commenced with Santos’ 2-1 win over Guarani on Saturday. It will continue for the club’s clash against Mirassol on Thursday before concluding with the game against Palmeiras on March 24.

Armenio Neto, marketing manager of Santos, said: “Santos have a tradition of being the gateway for some brands to Brazilian football, and with Chery this may be another one of those moments. We hope that our partnership is very positive for everyone.”

Marketing manager of Chery, Carlos Eduardo Lourenço,added: “From the results of this ‘tasting’ sponsorship, we will extend the action set up for a full season,” he said. The short-term deal was brokered by sports marketing agency BSB, which has partnered with Santos since 2003 and has sealed contracts for the club with the likes of BMG, Panasonic, SempToshiba and Bombril.

The University of Nebraska Athletic Department and adidas today announced a new contract that extends their partnership through 2018. 

The five-year contract between Nebraska and adidas runs through June 30, order 2018 and replaces the current eight-year deal that expires at the end of June. The new contract continues a relationship that began in 1995 and grants adidas the rights to serve as Nebraska’s official apparel and footwear provider for each of Nebraska’s 24 varsity sports.

“We are pleased to extend our contract with adidas as we look to continue to grow and extend our Nebraska Athletics brand world-wide, sick ” Nebraska Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst said. “Their products are of excellent quality across all sports and through the years they have also provided superior customer service to our programs. adidas has been a great partner for us and we look forward to working with them over the next five years.”

The long-standing relationship between Nebraska and adidas was a key factor in the decision to continue the partnership.

“adidas and Nebraska have been partners for nearly 20 years and we look forward to continuing to work with the university, medicine the athletic department and their student-athletes,” said Chris McGuire, adidas Director of Sports Marketing. “Our new contract allows us to continue to provide footwear, apparel and accessories that help the Huskers become stronger, lighter and faster. We’ve had a successful history with the Huskers and the future is bright in Lincoln.”

Boston-based mobile payment provider PXT Payments has announced a deal with Fenway Sports Management that will see the company sponsor Boston College athletics.

Fans of BC’s sports teams will be able to use the looped in mobile payment app at Conte Forum and Alumni Stadium.

“Looped in mobile technology offers an innovative payment solution for both consumers and merchants,” said Matt Murrey, VP of Boston College marketing partnerships at Fenway Sports Management, in a statement. “They have essentially captured all the conveniences of cash on a mobile platform without any of the drawbacks.”

The looped-in mobile payment app gives users the ability not only to find deals and pay for purchases, but also to send money to friends and pool money for group buying.

“The college and young professional markets are naturals for our mobile payment and rewards system,” said John Regan, CEO of PXT Payments. “Through our partnership with Fenway Sports Management, we are working toward introducing looped-in not only to Boston College students and fans but also to sports facilities and other merchant partners that can benefit from direct communication with consumers, a streamlined goods and services payment process, and the ability to accept pooled payments for group sales.”