NHRA and IMG

[stanman]

NHRA News: NHRA enters strategic alliance with IMG to enhance sponsorship efforts (4/14/2008)

NHRA has brought on sports marketing giant IMG...

I think this is the biggest news to hit drag racing since the return of nitro after the ban!

 

[JRX]

So NHRA has hired IMG to get more sponsors...now teams will have to work even harder to find someone to fund a ride. More money for the Glendora gang, let's hope they have teams to have a race. It will be interesting to see how this pans out...

 

[d'kid]

NHRA News: NHRA enters strategic alliance with IMG to enhance sponsorship efforts (4/14/2008)

NHRA has brought on sports marketing giant IMG...

I think this is the biggest news to hit drag racing since the return of nitro after the ban!

The one fifty years ago or the 2008 ban?
There's a thousand ways to skin a cat, none of which the cat is overly fond of. But the first thing in marketing the Sport is to decide, 1) is it a sport? 2) is it entertainment? 3) What is our core audience? 4) what do we want to be when we grow up besides rich and good looking? 5) Is it the National Hot Rod Association, Dedicated to Safety, or National Drag Racing Promotions, Dedicated to Show Business with a Profit?

Sorry, it's been a bad day

d'kid

 

[stanman]

So NHRA has hired IMG to get more sponsors...now teams will have to work even harder to find someone to fund a ride. More money for the Glendora gang, let's hope they have teams to have a race. It will be interesting to see how this pans out...

John,

NHRA's image is a joke. Compared to other racing series they pay peanuts to the competitors and they give chump change for winning a championship.

They need a monster like IMG to bring in a better series title sponsor. One that is actually going to do something to activate the partnership. They need IMG to boost the image of NHRA so that corporations won't turn the other way when approached about getting involved.

If IMG can improve NHRA's marketability as an organization that will translate to easier access for race teams with corporate America.

And so what if the NHRA's coffers begin to swell as long as the money makes it down to the racers in increased purses and championship bonuses. If it doesn't then we can start the lynching!!

 

[stanman]

The one fifty years ago or the 2008 ban?
There's a thousand ways to skin a cat, none of which the cat is overly fond of. But the first thing in marketing the Sport is to decide, 1) is it a sport? 2) is it entertainment? 3) What is our core audience? 4) what do we want to be when we grow up besides rich and good looking? 5) Is it the National Hot Rod Association, Dedicated to Safety, or National Drag Racing Promotions, Dedicated to Show Business with a Profit?

Sorry, it's been a bad day

d'kid

Karl,

I've said it for a long time now that NHRA is more a motorsports entertainment promoter than actual sanction body. It's been that way for almost a decade in my opinion.

The problem I see with them finally admitting that fact and making the full transition is what it will mean for the grass roots and sportsman racers.

 

[mick]

what exactly does 'strategic alliance' mean?
yet another story (HD Partners) that will interesting to follow.
hope for the best.

 

[d'kid]

Greg,

Once upon a time, it MEANT something to be a National Event winner as a 'Pro'.
It meant appearance money, it meant bookings. But, the Barnstorming days are long got.

Sitting here, I'm starting to understand the whole 'countdown thing'. There are so many Nationals today, that winning one doesn't have the impact it did 30 years ago. But I think they missed the point. Ten years ago, Customers went to the track to see if anyone could beat Force, today you have people doing back flips if Shoe or GA get beat.

But one lane tracks, or 5.50 passes, or nothing but side by side peddle jobs, I'll be there.

I do want to see what is now the Lucas Series grow. But just maybe, in everyones best Interest, Do booked in PRO SHOWS. and have National Events be True Semi-Pro and Sportsmen Events.

d'kid

 

[Toejam]

This doesn't make any sense, NHRA has been jacking sponsors from teams for years! I think this deal's more of a Get sponsors for NHRA arrangement more than anything! If I'm wrong I'll gladly eat crow, but I've seen firsthand possible sponsors get lobbied away from independent teams by the NHRA officials only to end up as an event sponsor, that Stinks IMO!

 

[Stroker]

They have the $$$$'s to hire IMG, but can't seem to find $$'s for a decent Payout to the event winners.

 

[Jim]

what exactly does 'strategic alliance' mean?

My guess that it means that if IMG finds NHRA any sponsors, it gets a cut of the money.

Jim

 

[ex-nsp]

Sounds like another way to accomplish what the HD Partners aquisition was supposed to do.

As squirrelly as NHRA has been lately with the yer-in, yer-out Funny Car deal and now the get-even-with- Don fine, the organization's credability as anything close to sane is suspect.
Maybe the Mosely scandal in F1 trumps it, but NHRA's recent actions are, although of a different kind, (as far a we all know yet) still bordering on craziness.

IMG has a tough job ahead!

 

[Johnny Mopar]

John,

NHRA's image is a joke. Compared to other racing series they pay peanuts to the competitors and they give chump change for winning a championship.

They need a monster like IMG to bring in a better series title sponsor. One that is actually going to do something to activate the partnership. They need IMG to boost the image of NHRA so that corporations won't turn the other way when approached about getting involved.

If IMG can improve NHRA's marketability as an organization that will translate to easier access for race teams with corporate America.

And so what if the NHRA's coffers begin to swell as long as the money makes it down to the racers in increased purses and championship bonuses. If it doesn't then we can start the lynching!!

Greg,

You've hit the nail on the head!

 

[Prestaged]

what exactly does 'strategic alliance' mean?

From Dictionary.com:

A Strategic Alliance is a formal relationship formed between two or more parties to pursue a set of agreed upon goals or to meet a critical business need while remaining independent organizations.

Partners may provide the strategic alliance with resources such as products, distribution channels, manufacturing capability, project funding, capital equipment, knowledge, expertise, or intellectual property. The alliance is a cooperation or collaboration which aims for a synergy where each partner hopes that the benefits from the alliance will be greater than those from individual efforts. The alliance often involves technology transfer (access to knowledge and expertise), economic specialization [1], shared expenses and shared risk.

 

[mick]

From Dictionary.com:

A Strategic Alliance is a formal relationship formed between two or more parties to pursue a set of agreed upon goals or to meet a critical business need while remaining independent organizations.

Partners may provide the strategic alliance with resources such as products, distribution channels, manufacturing capability, project funding, capital equipment, knowledge, expertise, or intellectual property. The alliance is a cooperation or collaboration which aims for a synergy where each partner hopes that the benefits from the alliance will be greater than those from individual efforts. The alliance often involves technology transfer (access to knowledge and expertise), economic specialization [1], shared expenses and shared risk.

thanks for definition roger.
was asking sarcastically

 

[stanman]

For those that don't know who or what IMG is you should check them out at IMG.

They are one of biggest (if not the biggest) sports management firms in the world. Their client list reads like a who's who of the most famous and highly paid athletes and organizations in the world.

 

[blackbeard]

some of you are so far off on this it's sick. when/if IMG launches NHRA to the "next level," it will be EASIER for teams to find sponsors. its not that the money isnt out there, just that companies dont see a point in dumping millions into a sport that doesnt even make sportscenter.

then again some people will complain about anything:
"wah wah i don't like paul page."
"the telecast gets bumped by girls softball, then when it does start on time, it's too long and boring. "
"i don't understand why some of the drivers are so boring during their top end interviews! everyone should act like john force!"
"i hate the countdown and i'm going to whine and complain but i'm still going to watch the race every week."
"i don't like the kind of car tom compton drives."

give me a break people. take a lesson from bob vandergriff...it's just drag racing.

 

[Prestaged]

thanks for definition roger.
was asking sarcastically

I know. It's all good. I had to look it up for my own clarification, so thought I'd post it. Gotta' love some of the corporate lingo.

 

[mick]

im sure it's much easier for a company who wants to use
sports/entertainment as a marketing tool to go to
someone like IMG who can show various tools within various entities,
than for one company to contact potential marketing sources individually.
i really hope this 'alliance' works (aka good relations between NHRA & PRO)

would be interesting to know the differences between marketing with a
franchise business such as the NFL and a 'private contractor' approach
such as the NHRA.

 

[PJ]

Well have to wait and see if this is good or not.

I have been one to complain about the lack of marketing. Hooking up with a company who is known for that will hopefully help.

Ideally they help bring sponsors to teams as well as NHRA but even if NHRA is just doing it for themselves that could still trickle down. If they get more places interested, that would bring others that would hopefully look at teams.

I think the big issue is the complete lack of faith most of us have in those running the show here. Who knows they may have actually got one right here. Lord knows they aren't going to come up with a great idea on their own so why not get an outside group. That alone is a smart move. Now weather it works in the end I'm willing to wait and see

 

[Johnny Mopar]

some of you are so far off on this it's sick. when/if IMG launches NHRA to the "next level," it will be EASIER for teams to find sponsors. its not that the money isnt out there, just that companies dont see a point in dumping millions into a sport that doesnt even make sportscenter.

then again some people will complain about anything:
"wah wah i don't like paul page."
"the telecast gets bumped by girls softball, then when it does start on time, it's too long and boring. "
"i don't understand why some of the drivers are so boring during their top end interviews! everyone should act like john force!"
"i hate the countdown and i'm going to whine and complain but i'm still going to watch the race every week."
"i don't like the kind of car tom compton drives."

give me a break people. take a lesson from bob vandergriff...it's just drag racing.

You're absolutely correct Lance! This is the big picture view that our sport needs. It's current marketing value hasn't increased in years. If anything, it's probably gone down...that's why Softball games pre-empt race coverage.

We have a great sport, but the majority of it's value is "inside the box" (racers and current fans). We only grow revenue when we grow the sport...outside that box.