NEW YORK, N.Y. and INDIANAPOLIS – Phillips-Van Heusen Corp., has announced a multi-year agreement in principle with the Indy Racing League (IRL), the sanctioning body for the IndyCar Series, for its IZOD brand to become the title sponsor of the newly renamed IZOD IndyCar Series. This agreement marks the League’s first title sponsorship since 2001.
Under the new arrangement, IZOD will also retain its designation as the official apparel partner of the Indy Racing League, which began in 2008. Key elements of the agreement are expected to include a multi-year, multi-million dollar activation plans and brand-building efforts around the IZOD IndyCar Series intended to broaden the promotion of the sport both off the track and beyond its traditional audience; a multi-year, multi-million dollar commitment to participate in the IZOD IndyCar Series Team Enhancement/Allocation Matrix (TEAM) fund. Introduced in 2008, TEAM provides a guaranteed financial foundation for all teams committed to running the entire IZOD IndyCar Series schedule.; shared Web initiatives and online promotions; and rights to use one of the most dynamic marketing events in all of sports – two parade laps in the IZOD IndyCar Series two-seater at the start of the Indianapolis 500 and other selected races –providing a one-of-a-kind experience to an IZOD-selected VIP or fan sweepstakes winner.
“The combination of young, dynamic drivers representing over 14 countries, events in key domestic and global markets and its strong American racing heritage make the IndyCar Series a perfect fit for the sport-spirited IZOD brand lifestyle,” said Allen Sirkin, president and chief operating officer of Phillips-Van Heusen. “Our involvement with the IRL began shortly after the unification of U.S. open-wheel racing and, despite the recession, we have seen growth and sense the potential for even greater opportunity as the sport is re-energized on the American sports landscape, as well as abroad. We’re excited at the opportunity to become the title sponsor of the IZOD IndyCar Series and look forward to taking our partnership with the fastest form of motorsport in the world, along with its ‘cars and stars,’ to a new level of marketing and activation both on and off the track.”
“Our relationship with the IZOD brand has been on the fast track since the day we began our partnership in 2008, and we are thrilled they have taken a bigger and more vital role in our sport,” said Terry Angstadt, president of the Commercial Division of the Indy Racing League. “Their strong marketing skills, national retail partnerships and ability to bring fresh eyes to the sport have already proven powerful in our short time together. We’re confident that we have found a partner with a strong brand, a bright future and a vision for growing the IZOD IndyCar Series that will benefit fans, drivers, teams, owners and tracks.”
The 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series, the premier open-wheel racing series in the U.S., showcases some of motorsport’s leading personalities, including Danica Patrick, Helio Castroneves, Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon, Ryan Briscoe and Tony Kanaan, as well as Graham Rahal, Marco Andretti and Tomas Scheckter, heirs to some of auto racing’s greatest legends. The 2010 season is scheduled to feature 17 races in the United States, Canada, Japan and Brazil, with the first green flag dropping March 14 in Brazil. The races will be broadcast in high-definition on ABC and VERSUS.
Throughout the 2009 IndyCar Series season, and to coincide with the series race schedule, in-store events took place at select Macy’s stores around the country to further support the launch of the IZOD/INDY sportswear line. The events displayed vintage driver suits, archival photography and one-of-a-kind cars on loan from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum and were highlighted by both legendary and current driver appearances.
In one such event, at the Macy’s Herald Square flagship store in New York, the entire field of 33 starting drivers of the 2009 Indianapolis 500 posed for a photograph on a closed Broadway in front of display windows showcasing winning cars from nearly every decade of Indy racing.
Promotional activities for the IZOD/INDY sportswear collection included a text messaging and Web-based national sweepstakes hosted at macys.com/izod. The grand prize was an all-inclusive package for four to the 2009 Indianapolis 500.
