Brand Switching...PLEASE READ...! (1 Viewer)

[Tim5636sc]

From Bobby's Site:


Torco Racing Fuel's Competition Plus.com - Drag Racing's Internet Magazine - A BRANDING SWITCH?

Ok, for starters, How did we miss this? If I am reading this correctly, and NHRA switches the series from the "POWERADE" sponsorship of the series to the "FULL THROTTLE" NHRA Series, this could open up a HUGE CAN OF WORMS. With the Abundance of ENERGY DRINK SPONSORS, (MONSTER, ROCKSTAR, VEGAS FUEL, VIS VIVA and the rest) Where does this leave them? In the same boat as NASCAR's Deal where they'll have to Go to Court to keep their sponsorships or not being able to switch their brand's to promote some other version of their product!!! I'm not ready to say that the SKY IS FALLING....BUT...I saw this guy wandering around Glendora's HQ..

 

[Bullet]

From Bobby's Site:


Torco Racing Fuel's Competition Plus.com - Drag Racing's Internet Magazine - A BRANDING SWITCH?

Ok, for starters, How did we miss this? If I am reading this correctly, and NHRA switches the series from the "POWERADE" sponsorship of the series to the "FULL THROTTLE" NHRA Series, this could open up a HUGE CAN OF WORMS. With the Abundance of ENERGY DRINK SPONSORS, (MONSTER, ROCKSTAR, VEGAS FUEL, VIS VIVA and the rest) Where does this leave them? In the same boat as NASCAR's Deal where they'll have to Go to Court to keep their sponsorships or not being able to switch their brand's to promote some other version of their product!!! I'm not ready to say that the SKY IS FALLING....BUT...I saw this guy wandering around Glendora's HQ..

They will have to grandfather the sponsors that clash.

 

[G'ginna]

Even that causes issues... remember Nascar had Sprint, Alltel & Cingular... Cingular changed names & AT&T had to go to court to prove they had a right to honor their contract and a right to sponsor their driver.

Why would you want to limit your sponsor pool in a sport that is already having problems finding enough sponsors for the drivers that are out there?

 

[clwill]

Why would you want to limit your sponsor pool in a sport that is already having problems finding enough sponsors for the drivers that are out there?

Ain't that the truth... Weren't some of the most interesting races in the past when you had competing brands? Remember the beer wars? Wouldn't it be cool to have the Army up against the Marines?

 

[The Counterfeiter]

Why would you want to limit your sponsor pool in a sport that is already having problems finding enough sponsors for the drivers that are out there?

NHRA pays for TV time - NASCAR gets paid millions. Do you really think that Coca Cola and NHRA are stupid enough to force teams to go to court to continue minimal energy drink sponsorships? These sponsors are not AT&T!
The legal costs in that p$$$ing match could probably fund all of the NHRA nitro teams for a year!

 

[vegasnitro]

I think it would be a case of EX POST FACTO, which was the case in NASCAR. They allowed the Alltell, Cingular and Sprint sponsorships to continue, since they were in place before Nextel came in. There was only a problem when Cingular rebranded to AT+T, then the rebranding was held up in court.

In NHRA ... VEGASFuel, Rockstar, Monster and Vis Viva were all in place BEFORE any potential rebranding of the title sponsor ... and since a legal precedent has been set in a similar entity (NASCAR) ... I would think this is a non-issue until a new brand tries to come in.

The cynic in me believes it would be VERY easy to rebrand NHRA to Full Throttle ... as it doesn't seem to me that POWERade does much NHRA branding anyway. There are not many T-Shirts walking around, not many commercials on TV, etc. Hopefully Coca-Cola has learned their lesson and they will spend a few bucks on brand "activation" with Full Throttle ....

 

[Gutter Brain]

I agree with what Chris said. I would think that any team with current energy drink sponsorship would be fine. What if someone tried to bring Redbull though? they would be shafted? Personally, I would say change the name and do not limit at all.
I think Full Throttle could be a title sponsor. But would that be long term? Even though I drink Monster, VegasFuel and Rockstar (haven't found Vis Viva), how long is this energy drink market going to support that level involvement?

 

[Todd]

In the NASCAR Nationwide series (formally the Bush series) Teams
with existing Auto Insurance sponsorship (Geico) have 3 years to
exit the sport. So they could push all others out. That would be a
huge mistake for the NHRA. Unless Full Throttle wants to increase there
involvement by a substantial amount including team sponsorship.

I wonder if they are figuring out how to stop Red Bull form entering.
They will bring huge $$ if they decide to play in the NHRA.

 

[Adam]

I think "What if..." and "unsubstantiated rumor" in the article should dismiss any sightings of the little chicken in southern california.

 

[Gutter Brain]

I think "What if..." and "unsubstantiated rumor" in the article should dismiss any sightings of the little chicken in southern california.

But, Adam, what else would we talk about? Not like there is a National event going on this week, and other stuff out there to talk about.

 

[Alan]

I think Full Throttle would be a great title sponsor, and you still have Coke's representation. Hopefully NHRA wouldn't be dumb enough to try and eliminate competing sponsors. Back in the Winston days, Camel had their own cars, didn't they????

Just the words 'Full Throttle' seems to fit our sport.

 

[Todd]

Back in the Winston days, Camel had their own cars, didn't they????

Just the words 'Full Throttle' seems to fit our sport.

R.J. Reynolds did have an exclusive contract. The Camel brand was under that umbrella. Hence the reason you never seen Marlboro or Cool in NHRA or NASCAR.
They went Indy Racing.

 

[FABMAN]

I'm by no means an expert on advertising but if Coke wants to change name of series to Full Throttle that's great, it fits drag racing well. Coke people are smart and they have a good idea of what the response and ROI would be if they do change. Restricting potential sponsors from stepping into series is detrimental to this sport. If Gatorade wants to sponsor a funny car team they should be able to do so. Coke will get the same advertising if Gatorade is there or not. Competition is good for business.

 

[jackass]

Does anyone remember the Gatorade/Powerade duels in NASCAR victory lane a few years ago?.... that was all Coke Americas doing... paid NASCAR to Sponsor the victory lane tv interviews.. if they put the Powerade bottles on the cars in victory lane.... drivers were climbing out and knocking off the powerade bottles....lol

all except the ones that had the COKE FAMILY deal... but very few of them hit the winners circle.. so we mostly got drivers tossing the Powerade bottles...

As far as NASCAR and the cell companies.... all were grandfathered in.. but thay had to stay with the same team in the same capacity if they stayed in... no backing down of participation allowed....if the team closed the doors or was sold.. the sponsrship ended.. no more involvment allowed... AT&T bought Cingular... and wanted to transfer the name into the sponsrship..but that was a breach of the orignal agreement as far as NEXTEL was concerned... so they (AT&T) sued.... but.. the agreement that allowed them to change names...also made it when the written at the time contract ends.. they are gone.. no more CUP... they can back down to the Nationwides series.. or trucks...

The smart decission for Coke would be to allow the other Energy Drinks to remain. and new ones to come in if.. the name changed... but amp (no pun intended) up their involvement in the NHRA....but .. why spend more money .. when you can flex legal muscles to get your way and keep a piece of the market under your thumb....

Billy

 

[rocketman]

Full Throttle makes perfect sense on Coke's end but not in the middle of the season. My guess is that with all the difficulties in trying to find sponsors, there won't be any such rule in place, especially with a sour economy.

 

[G'ginna]

AT&T bought Cingular... and wanted to transfer the name into the sponsrship..but that was a breach of the orignal agreement as far as NEXTEL was concerned... so they (AT&T) sued.... but.. the agreement that allowed them to change names...also made it when the written at the time contract ends.. they are gone.. no more CUP... they can back down to the Nationwides series.. or trucks...

AT&T did NOT buy Cingular. Cingular purchased AT&T Wireless a separate division from AT&T.

Cingular's parent companies had always been SBC and Southern Bell.

SBC bought AT&T and CHOSE to rebrand SBC as AT&T while combining companies.

SBC and Southern Bell got permission from the FCC to merge and did under the name of AT&T.

THEN, Cingular Wireless was asked to re-brand as AT&T but was NEVER bought. This is why AT&T won the lawsuit.

Hence the new advertising for awhile of "Welcome to the New AT&T"

 

[Jay]

I think Full Throttle would be a great title sponsor, and you still have Coke's representation. Hopefully NHRA wouldn't be dumb enough to try and eliminate competing sponsors. Back in the Winston days, Camel had their own cars, didn't they????

Just the words 'Full Throttle' seems to fit our sport.

It is important to note that this would not be the case because Full Throttle's national advertising budget is actually LESS than POWERade's.

If POWERade continues to ignore the series (outside of the series itself), how would Full Throttle be a better sponsor for the sport, if they have even LESS resources?

 

[jackass]

AT&T did NOT buy Cingular. Cingular purchased AT&T Wireless a separate division from AT&T.

Cingular's parent companies had always been SBC and Southern Bell.

SBC bought AT&T and CHOSE to rebrand SBC as AT&T while combining companies.

SBC and Southern Bell got permission from the FCC to merge and did under the name of AT&T.

THEN, Cingular Wireless was asked to re-brand as AT&T but was NEVER bought. This is why AT&T won the lawsuit.

Hence the new advertising for awhile of "Welcome to the New AT&T"

Jeez.. maybe i should have the Press release i got form RCR checked....hhmmm.. thanks....

Billy...

 

[G'ginna]

Jeez.. maybe i should have the Press release i got form RCR checked....hhmmm.. thanks....

Billy...

Press releases are made to put a "spin" on the facts to put a favorable light on a situation.

Facts are facts.

You can believe a press release, or you can believe facts. Your choice, I don't care which you do. Just thought you would like to have the facts before you choose.

BTW, IMO at the rate Sprint/Nextel are going, they will be looking for larger ways to save money. Their shareholders don't seem to be real happy with their merger/buyout.