MLS Expansion next year..Montreal?

Major League Soccer hopes to announce another expansion soon, this time to Montreal.

Commissioner Don Garber says the league also would like to return to the southeast, either to Atlanta or South Florida.

“We're confident that we'll be able to announce a 19th team shortly, and our hope is that 19th team will be in Montreal,” he said Thursday during a meeting with the Associated Press Sports Editors.

The league has 16 teams this season and has added franchises in Portland, Ore., and Vancouver for 2011.

Montreal was in the hunt for an MLS franchise in 2008, but the delegation — led by Impact owner Joey Saputo and then-Canadiens owner George Gillett — withdrew its bid amid questions about how it would fund the franchise fee.

While Miami and Tampa Bay once had MLS teams, they were eliminated after the 2001 season.

“Eventually I'm sure we'll get back to the southeast broadly and Florida more specifically,” Garber said. “I'm not quite sure what the timing is of that. but I can't image this league will be fully expanded without having a team in Florida or south of Washington, D.C.

“We continue to have discussions in Atlanta. I think Atlanta's a good sports market, also has some competition for its size, but lots of youth participation and a massive and growing Mexican population in Atlanta. Those are probably the two places where we look, South Florida and Atlanta, as the next places in the southeast.”

The league does find some obstacles to returning to Florida.

“We in the sports business sort of look at Florida as a difficult market. Many of the pro sports teams there have challenges, and there's a lot of reasons for that: a lot of transient residents, a lot of international visitors that own second homes,” he said. “Weather is a big issue Florida, both in terms of rain and the fact that it's very hot when you want to play your games. People have an alternative — they can go to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.”

Seattle, which started play last year, has proven to be an ideal place for the league.

“Seattle's a quirky market,” he said. “You think about the kind of consumer that lives there, it has sort of the dynamic that soccer fans sort of describe themselves as. They're a little alternative. That's where the alternative music world was born. A lot of tech people, and tech people tend to be more global and live in a more global environment. There's a massive amount of youth participation there.”

Garber thinks the league will grow larger than comparable first divisions in Europe. While eventually he would like to see relegation and promotion, it's not on the horizon because there isn't a financially viable second division that would be acceptable to MLS owners if their teams went down.

“In 2011 we'll have 18 teams in our league,” he said. “That's the size league that FIFA would like their first divisions to be. My guess is we probably expand beyond that in the years to come. Our country is a lot bigger than many of the European countries that might have 75 or 80 million people — ours 300 million-plus crossing three time zones, We probably have some room for more than 18 teams.”

Attendance is up signficantly so far this season. The league is averaging 18,334 for its first 29 games, up 19.9 per cent from 15,285 from the comparable period last year.

While the league has grown, television ratings are essentially flat. The 14 telecasts on U.S. networks ESPN, FSC and Telefutura this season have averaged 173,000 viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. At the comparable point last year, 12 telecasts averaged 172,000 viewers.

“Ratings for us don't concern us. It's a long-term project,” Garber said of the league, which started play in 1996. “The difference between 250,000 and 400,000 is not the issue. It's how do you get the 400,000 to become two million?”

Cleveland Indians Social Media Deck..New Sponsorship Opportunity?

Cleveland Indians Reaching Out to Social Media Users via “Tribe Social Deck”

While calling it “progressive” may be a cheap play on the name of the stadium in which they play, the Cleveland Indians are making a move this season that not many of their peers have even considered. With the Internet and social media being ignored by all of the NFL and much of the NBA, the Indians have decided to roll out an initiative solely to cater to those using the emerging mediums.

Two forces likely coming together allowed the team to get the proper approvals to roll out what they are calling the Tribe Social Deck, an actual physical wooden deck with two rows of stadium seating for 10, located in left field between the bleachers and the standing room only area. The primary reason is to engage with fans via social media, an audience that is widely overlooked when it comes to marketing by professional teams. Another reason, that some may even rank above the first, is that the Indians are likely going to experience a down season when it comes to attendance. Engaging said social media users is a way to add additional interest in a team that, quite frankly, has seen a strong decline in fan support with the success of the Cavaliers and relative invincibility of the Browns.

A prime place for a home run ball, those seated in the deck area also have a television monitor that allows attendees to view scoreboard graphics without having to turn 180 degrees to their left. Banners hung to the right and behind the deck allow privacy, and the stairs leading up to the deck provide intrigue by fans that are heading to their seats in the bleachers. Several fans were spotted asking ushers about the cost and attainability of the deck seats – something that was likely an awkward conversation between both parties due to the nature of the endeavor.

But what are the ultimate goals of this fancy looking Social Deck?

Essentially, the team is well aware that there is an entire audience having a discussion about them and they want to be a part. To do so, they have added a member to their public relations department that is strictly responsible for social media – blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc. A consultant helped the team target specific individuals that are considered “influences” on the various mediums, and from there they hope to reach out and build awareness and interest in the team.

“We envision this area as sort of a press box for the social media users,” said Indians PR representative Rob Campbell.

While the play on the field and the additions of big name players may not exactly be “Progressive,” the endeavor to cater to users of social media definitely is. It is a great way to meet the people that one engages with on a daily basis and allows for further network building at a professional level – something that may not always be discussed freely on the Internet.

One complaint that may be heard from others that attended the Social Deck is the lack of mobile connectivity. While this may not be a problem in subsequent games due to attendance figures, the home opener provided next to zero mobile signal, making use of social media relatively difficult. Long term, the team plans on providing exclusive Wi-Fi access to the 10 individuals on the deck – something that they will be able to do through Time Warner via their sponsorship of the area. Assuming this is rectified, attendees will be free to do their very own play-by-play or sharing of in-game experiences.

Of course, one can also complain about the lack of a grill or a stocked cooler on the deck, but what can you do…

While the idea will depend soley on execution, the positives are that the team is willing to entertain a faction of fans that were typically excluded prior to now. The Indians are well aware of the fact that this is a bit of a risk on their part, offering tickets to random Internet users and all, but realize that it is something that can help them get a small leg up on some of their peers when it comes to fan interaction. Director of Communications and Creative Services Curtis Danburg claims that general manager Mark Shapiro has been behind this initiative almost right out of the gate and was a big player in getting the deck approved.

While public relations staff says that they will likely not be using the deck for every game, they fully expect to be reaching out to several other users of social media throughout the season. All in all, it is a terrific way to have a niche group of fans attend games that would otherwise be tuning in from home. Said niche is one that is growing exponentially year over year and one that the team is able to recognize as an integral part of increasing discussion of the team.

The willingness to take on a new initiative like social media should be applauded. Given that the deck was constructed in about a weeks time, the efforts to get this endeavor rolled out were very strong. What the future has in store for the Tribe Social Deck remains to be seen, but through one game, all signs point to progression.

Kraft Singles sponsorship of Minor League Baseball

Starting May 12th through September 1st, take a Kraft Singles wrapper to any Tuesday game for the opportunity to buy one ticket and get a second ticket free at participating Minor League Baseball parks.


http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/kraft_landing_2010.jsp

F1 Ferrari Finds Smoke Without Fire

F1 Ferrari Finds Smoke Without Fire
Tobacco firm's continued sponsorship is worth $100 million to Formula One racing team

http://on.wsj.com/bFA62V

Nascar teams live and die by their Sponsorship dollars

When you think of danger at the track, oil slicks, fires and five-car pile-ups come to mind. But for the past couple of years Nascar teams have faced an even bigger risk: sponsors pulling out. www.forbes.com/2010/03/24/nascar-most-valuable-teams-business-sports-nascar-10-teams.html

Honda sponsorship unlikely to save Indy
Automaker to be announced as new title sponsor for Edmonton event

They will be announced this afternoon as the new title sponsor of the July 25 IndyCar race, a move that completes a Canadian package deal of sorts as they already have their brand on the Toronto Indy event that precedes Edmonton's by a week.

But the sad fact is this; major financial wreckage at City Centre Airport cannot be avoided under the current business model with or without Honda's vital and welcome input. Under Northlands' inconsistent stewardship and Rexall's title sponsorship contribution of about $400,000 per year, the race lost $5.3 million in 2008 and $3.9 million last year. Near as anyone can figure, and that's admittedly a bit of a sketchy enterprise given the Indy Racing League doesn't release attendance numbers and Northlands issues historically inaccurate budget projections, the 2010 race is due for another whopping splash of red ink. It could be something in the neighbourhood of $3 million, which is not a nice neighbourhood at all.

The cumulative loss would be $12.2 million in Edmonton taxpayer dollars to subsidize three weekends' worth of racing. Ouch. There is a cost of doing business but that cost has been exceeded twice over and shows no sign of significant improvement should this event go forward under its current incarnation, and that's appearing less and less likely. Which makes you wonder why Honda jumped on board.

Whatever. Taxpayers are in no mood for massive losses on entertainment ventures, those taxpayers will be going to the civic polls in October and Mayor Stephen Mandel is running again. Now, another whopping Indy loss in July will not cost Mandel his cushy chair at City Hall in October. However, there is every chance he and prospective councillors will be likely to distance themselves from such a publicized dumping of taxpayer dough in the coming months. The current deal between Northlands and the IRL expires after this race and Council is certainly not going to underwrite another lengthy contract when it so obviously burdens the race promoter with so much overhead. There was loose talk about a two-year extension last summer but that vague promise went up in so much tire smoke once the $3.9-million loss had been reported.

Three years of running this event into the ground has convinced those well-meaning but completely overmatched folks at Northlands that the financial model is a wreck. They're right. They're also, as aforementioned, in over their heads. They are not race promoters. Seriously, it's four months exactly until race day and the event has next to no presence in the city.

But as of today it has a title sponsor, a major multinational company in fact, and that represents significant progress. Word is Northlands had outside help in procuring Honda's corporate involvement, and that too is a good thing. Mandel said months ago that the race could come close to breaking even with the right amount of corporate support and while he's probably too optimistic by half, he's been listening to the 16-member Go Indy Committee of local movers and shakers who have ideas and connections. They surely warrant a listen.

But with or without Honda, the bottom line is still the same; the race needs a new business model and new, private-sector promoters. Because, even if you build in the cost of mistakes Northlands made and won't make again, it just cannot be done here under the current conditions without the citizens taking a bath at the end of the weekend.

With "$4.2 million in upfront costs, this is a very challenging business model for Northlands to proceed with. It is difficult to make this profitable," Northlands spokesperson Brian Leadbetter told reporters earlier this year, after a closed-door information session with city council.

"We're committed to reducing expenses further in 2010. That will be a significant exercise for us this year, while looking for new revenue opportunities while we can."

Leadbetter would not comment on Wednesday, but said recently Northlands is indeed beating all the bushes and has applied for $1 million in federal grant money. However, if they are successful in obtaining the grant, it cannot simply be applied to the bottom line, as it is earmarked for new initiatives only, and he wouldn't say how that might be relevant to their race plans.

Northlands is also desperately cutting costs, an act that includes scaling back the amount of those pricey temporary bleachers this year.

In a recent conversation, Leadbetter wouldn't say how many bleachers would be eliminated since it would in some way amount to a breach of their confidentiality agreement with Indy on those ultra-secret attendance figures.

It would also show Edmonton taxpayers how serious Northlands is about cutting the deficit. But hey, a secret is a secret.

It is no secret that the future of the race is tenuous at best and that sad fact may overshadow everything good that happens in late July.

Paul Tracy is allegedly going to race here again for KVR. The Ganassi/Penske duel will continue and Danica Patrick will headline a small clutch of female drivers.

All interesting enough, but because the race is a perennial bleeder, the airport land is in play and the IRL isn't exactly married to Canada, what with U.S. and South American markets beckoning, the suspect future will dominate track talk.

If Edmonton cannot make it work, the IRL may well be ready to move along in 2011.

But nobody in Edmonton or Indy will be saying that today, because there is mercifully a title sponsor to unveil and at least one Honda Indy Edmonton to run

Ready, Trade Show, Aim?

It's springtime, which means it's open season for trade shows. With attendance down across the board at shows again this year, it's more important than ever to have a smart marketing plan in place that will help you reach attendees and also target prospects who cannot attend the show.

You read that correctly. A good trade show marketing plan also reaches out to people who aren't attending the show.

Just because prospects don't have the budget to attend trade shows this year doesn't mean they should be ignored in your trade show marketing. Involving them with clever strategies can help you hunt down leads and bag your best trade show ever.

Start early and often. Start early to build intrigue and excitement around your trade show booth through an email drip campaign about a month before the event. Send an email a week, each highlighting one aspect of your booth -- a new product introduction, sign-up to win promotion, free trial, etc. Send the emails to your opt-in contact list from the previous year and to anyone else who has opted in to receive such emails. Include your booth number in each email.

Stay in contact during the show. The trade show itself provides several opportunities to stay in touch with prospects. While you may want to have a fishbowl to collect business cards for a drawing or giveaway, make sure you ask contributors if they would like to opt in to your mailing list before they throw their card in. Have a special landing page set up onsite that will keep these email addresses separate from your general opt-in list. Make sure you send these prospects an email each night thanking them for stopping by your booth. Your immediate attention will set you apart from other show participants.

Keep current on what's happening elsewhere at the show and blog about it each day. Turn these blogs into an email campaign. These emails will remind your base to come see you, and will keep your other prospects updated on what's happening at the show.

Have a post-show plan. Before you leave for the show, have a post-show plan ready. The day you get back, pull the trigger. Trade show follow-up is the area where most marketers fall down, so your quick movement here will get noticed immediately.

Here's the plan we use that works great for us. We send out an email to everyone who visits our booth, thanking them and saying that they can expect three additional emails over the next two weeks with more information. We give them the option of opting out if they don't want any more information. Then, in our following emails, we send great information, such as a white paper, a video link, and an all-in-one PDF that includes everything we do. Each touch brings prospects along through our lead generation process, and each email is personalized with information from the person they met at the booth. We pepper the emails with photos of the booth, information about the winner of our contest, videos of people at the show and other details to boost their comfort level.

Internally, you can increase the success of your sales reps by giving them the click-through information from these emails. By seeing which links the prospects clicked on, and therefore were interested in, the reps have a conversation-starter and are not going into a call cold.

Sponsorships: AMEX Takes Fashion Week Online

Sponsorships: AMEX Takes Fashion Week Online



American Express has added Twitter and Facebook to its Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week sponsorship. The multimedia activation kicks off in New York City tomorrow and runs through Feb. 18.

Cardmembers who attend the fashion shows will receive perks like a VIP view of the runway from the brand’s Skybox, exclusive access to fashion designers and the royal treatment at a relaxing cardmember-only lounge. Followers of American Express on Twitter (@AmericanExpress) will have a chance to win a Skybox package for two to view Anna Sui and Brian Reyes’s Fall 2010 show on Feb. 17. Under the tents attendees will have a chance to check out American Express’s multimedia wall in the lobby showcasing personal tweets from some of fashion’s top designers, folks in the Skybox and fashion bloggers (Tweet to #amexMBFW to join the conversation). The company is also on Facebook and will be updating its page with Fashion Week content as well as posting photos taken by a professional photographer on site, which attendees can then upload to their personal Facebook pages.

“This year we’re using the power of social media to keep people in the know even if they can’t get into the event,” Jessica Igoe, director-global sponsorship marketing at American Express, told Buzz. “We are taking these beautiful experiences that cardmembers have at Fashion Week and making them available to the masses, because we only have room for so many people physically in the tent.”

Building on an existing relationship with the blogger community, American Express is partnering with Independent Fashion Bloggers (it has 6,000 members) to help organize their first official blogger conference called “Evolving Influence” on Feb. 15 at the Helen Hills Theater in New York City. The brand will also be capturing exclusive behind-the-scenes content (like designers prepping before a show) that will be placed on a media player that will allow consumers to access it from partner websites like style.com. For more information consumers are directed to americanexpress.com/entertainment. Agency: Momentum Worldwide, New York City.

The Love of My life!

My wife just completed her 37 rounds of radiation....20+ rounds of chemo....giving birth to our second daughter Ezri during treatment...and working full time! An amazing women that is an even more amazing role model to our girls! I love you Dawn and could not be more proud of you!

Random Thoughts brought to you by.....

Random Thoughts brought to you by .....me!

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately
clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you
realize you're wrong.

3.. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I
was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm
pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how
the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at
work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything
productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray?
I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it
asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper
that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this -- ever.

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello?
), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to
voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run
away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not
seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know
not to answer when they call.

18. When your 4-year old asks you in the car the other day "What
would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the heck do you respond to
that?

19. I think the freezer deserves a light as well..

20. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or
Saturday night more kisses begin with Bud Light than Kay.

TRAEF Launches Culinary Competitions

Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation Launches Culinary Competitions
33 high school culinary teams to compete in regional competitions.

[Press Release] Austin, Texas - For the first time, students enrolled in Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation FS Prep culinary arts programs in high schools across Texas are eligible to compete in the ultimate high school culinary competition, the National ProStart Invitational.
Currently 26 teams have signed up to participate in the regional culinary competitions in Dallas, Houston and Austin in January and February. Seven management teams will compete at the same time the winning regional culinary teams are competing in the state competition at the Texas Culinary Academy in Austin in March.
Each year more than $1 million in scholarships is awarded to winning culinary and management teams by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, The Coca-Cola Company and many leading colleges and universities.
"We are very excited that Texas FS Prep students are competing for the first time in these competitions," said Dean McSherry, Preferred Restaurant Management Group and TRA Education Foundation chairman. "This is a great showcase for our outstanding culinary arts students and will be a wonderful experience for all teams involved."
Teams participating in the culinary competition must demonstrate their creative abilities through the preparation of a three-course meal in only 60 minutes. Teams participating in the management competition demonstrate their knowledge of the restaurant and foodservice industry by developing a restaurant proposal, delivering a verbal presentation, and applying critical thinking skills to challenges managers face in day-to-day operations.

Regional Competitions

Dallas - January 23 - Le Cordon Bleu, Dallas
Houston - February 20 - Westside High School, Houston
Austin - February 27- Texas Culinary Academy, Austin

Texas State Competition
Texas Culinary Academy - March 6 - Austin

National ProStart Invitational
Overland Park, Kansas April 28 - May 2

Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation:

It is the mission of the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation to serve as the resource arm of the restaurant industry by maintaining educational programs and enhancing the industry's image to benefit local communities, the state and the foodservice industry. www.restaurantville.com.

BMW Partnership with London 2012

German carmaker BMW became the latest Tier One partner for the London Olympics on Wednesday, joining an impressive list of major companies already signed up by the 2012 organising committee (LOCOG).

The deal is worth about 30 million pounds ($50.50 million) to LOCOG, mostly in the form of services provided by BMW who will supply 4,000 vehicles to transport athletes, officials and media during the Games and the Paralympics.

"Operationally, an automotive deal is vital for any organising committee and so I'm thrilled BMW is on board," LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe said in a statement.

"They share our vision to stage a sustainable Games in 2012 and will be a valued partner. On a commercial level, signing another Tier One Partner in this challenging environment is a fantastic achievement but it goes to show the inspirational power of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games."

BMW, which makes iconic British cars such as the Rolls Royce and Mini, is also a sustainability partner and will provide low emission vehicles, electric cars, bicycles and motorbikes, as London aims to become the greenest Olympics ever staged. The German company is the seventh Tier One partner to be signed up as LOCOG moves towards its target of 650 million pounds in private investment.

The rest of the two billion pound budget for running the Games will come from merchandising, ticket sales, the International Olympic Committee and television rights. The other Tier One partners are adidas, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB. Tier Two partners include Cadbury and Thomas Cook.

LOCOG has managed to attract major sponsorship despite the harsh economic climate but the Olympic Delivery Authority, which is responsible for building the venues, has struggled to fund some of the projects and has required extra government funding.

Golden Arches to Bring Winter Games to Life

Golden Arches to Bring Winter Games to Life


With the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver right around the corner—opening ceremonies will be held February 12—McDonald's, the official restaurant partner of the Olympics, announced its efforts to bring the Games to its customers all over the world.

The announcement was made via live Webcast and featured John Betts, McDonald's Canada president; Mary Dillon, McDonald's Global chief marketing officer; and U.S. gold-medal gymnast Shawn Johnson, among others.

McDonald's participation in the Winter Games is multifaceted and includes on-site restaurants, LTO menu options, promotional advertising and packaging, and charitable efforts.

"For us it's all about our customers," Dillon said during the Webcast. "The spirit of the Olympics is very consistent with that of McDonald's in that we're both organizations that can touch people of all ages and cultures all over the world, and we're excited to be associated with this great movement."

Three new McDonald's restaurants are being built to accommodate the 10,000 Olympic athletes and crew and 3,000 media members that will descend on Vancouver through the Games' end on February 28. Two of the units are located in the Olympic Villages—one each in Vancouver and Whistler—and one is in the Main Media Center in Vancouver.

"Athletes love McDonald's food, and we've seen and heard this over the years," Dillon said. "We know we feed more than their appetite—we feed their spirit."

The three new units will be staffed by the McDonald's Olympic Champion Crew, which includes 300 McDonald's employees from around Canada. Each unit includes energy efficient lighting and equipment that can be reused in Canadian McDonald's after the Games.

"We're also proud to participate in the Vancouver Organizing Committee's efforts to assure that these are the first-ever carbon-neutral games, by supporting their carbon offsetting program," Dillon said, referencing the Committee's Carbon Partner program.

To promote the Winter Games around the world, McDonald's is releasing market-specific commercials and packaging that feature Olympic athletes.

The promotions are most prominent in the Games' home country. Betts said in the Webcast that Canadian marketing includes six new commercials, Olympic-themed store decorations, and even LTO menu options.

"We're bringing the games to life for our customers inside the restaurants with images of world-class Canadian athletes," he said. "We want them to know that McDonald's is their Olympic headquarters."

The new menu options to be offered for a limited time at Canada McDonald's include a S'mores Pie, a Crème Brulee Crunch McFlurry, and a Parmigiana Chicken Snack Wrap.

Two McDonald's programs that will correlate with the Winter Olympic Games follow in the company's efforts to both give back to the community and maintain its commitment to children.

The McDonald's Champion Kids program, which was first held at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, brings select kids from all over the world between the ages of six and 14 to Vancouver to attend Olympic events and meet the athletes. The kids will blog from the games and report back to their hometown news outlets.

McDonald's is also helping to fund the construction of three accessible playgrounds in the Vancouver area.

"In the spirit of our commitment to children, three world-class accessible playgrounds will be built in Vancouver, Richmond, and Whistler," Betts announced in the Webcast.

"To create them, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada has partnered with the province of British Columbia, the Rick Hansen Foundation, and the 2010 Legacies Now organization."

Betts said that though McDonald's efforts to promote the 2010 Olympic Winter Game are extensive, the opportunity to connect the quick-serve chain with Canada and the rest of the world is worth the trouble.

"The return in terms of the financial investment is just one part of it," he said. "The opportunity to connect with millions of Canadians here in our home country and folks around the world, I think, is just immeasurable in terms of what the returns are.

"Our customers are very excited about it, and our employees and owner/operators are just thrilled to be engaged with the games. It's almost priceless."

Nissan Announced as the Official Vehicle of Team RadioShack

Nissan Announced as the Official Vehicle of Team RadioShack - Lance Armstrong's New Professional Cycling Team

Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today announced an agreement with Lance Armstrong, seven-time winner of the Tour de France and founder of the LIVESTRONG Charitable Foundation, to sponsor his new Team RadioShack pro cycling team. The multi-year partnership includes the use of a variety of Nissan products as the official vehicle of the team.

Team RadioShack consists of 25 professional riders from around the world, including Armstrong - many of them considered among the strongest competitors in cycling today. The team will compete in an extensive schedule of professional cycling races worldwide in 2010, including the Tour de France and the Tour of California.

"There's a powerful alignment between cycling enthusiasts' interests and Nissan's in terms of performance, durability and sustainability - whether their favorite ride has two wheels or four," said Christian Meunier, vice president, Nissan Marketing, NNA. "It is a solid platform to launch many exciting products here in the United States and around the globe."

Nissan, which already enjoys a strong presence in the health, wellness and personal fitness arena with its Sports Illustrated College Football and Rodale Fitness partnerships, also plans to actively support Team RadioShack at the Tour of California, Tour of Missouri, Tour de France and other major Pro Cycling events around the globe. The company views the partnership as a way to connect with the more than 21 million cyclists in the United States and the 40 million cycling fans that attended live events around the world in 2009.

"We're very excited to have Nissan join as a partner of Team RadioShack. Team vehicles and new technologies play a key role in the success of any professional cycling team and we look forward to using Nissan products as we race around the world," said Armstrong.

"We know that Nissan has some cutting-edge product launches on the horizon and we look forward to an excellent and winning partnership with our new Nissan friends for many years to come," he continued.

"The connection between health, wellness and sustainable mobility, such as Nissan supports with the upcoming Nissan LEAF(TM) electric vehicle and our Green Program 2010, is a natural. Nissan has been a proud supporter of the LIVESTRONG Challenge and looks forward to working together with the LIVESTRONG Foundation and their fight against cancer," added Meunier