Sponsorship
THE CYCLING TEAM AT THE UNVERISTY OF TENNESSEE AND ITS FUTURE
The cycling team at The University of Tennessee is poised for continued growth for 2007. The team traveled throughout the southeast United States to compete against the countries best collegiate athletes, generating thousands of impressions along the way.
Our Team is earning its reputation as a highly regarded school team both on and off the bike, whether it means crossing the finish line in victory or representing sponsors in a responsible and professional manor. We are looking to the future to continue to build upon last year’s success. For this reason we are seeking sponsors to partner with us and capitalize on the gains that affiliation with our program will bring. The media opportunities the team encounters can be tailored marketing messages of your brand that can help drive sales.
The cycling team at The University of Tennessee was reincarnated in 2005 after a five year hiatus. This team is dedicated to the development of collegiate athletes. The sole purpose of this team is to cultivate future cyclists that will hold on to the sport for the rest of their lives. While our sole purpose is development we also focus on positive promotion of our university and of our sponsor’s brand, product or services via the highly visible sport of cycling. Our cyclists will become rolling billboards on roads all of the southeast U.S. representing your organization.
Your brand will impact thousands of people daily. Better than a conventional billboard, our athletes become a well-informed, mobile branding resource. Highly visible brands such as United States Postal Service, Discovery Channel, Saturn, 7-up, BMW, Motorola, and Ralph Lauren have all seen the very cost effective and positive results that sponsoring a cycling team has to offer.
WHY A COLLEGIATE CYCLING TEAM?
Cycling is one of the few sports, which fully embraces corporate sponsorship. The Team’s name is the brand of the corporate sponsor and therefore all references are to its sponsors. Team uniforms and other team items display the brand of your corporation over a season, which spans 300 plus days a year. As a result of the athletes not being a static medium, they return a higher impression and retention value.
Additionally, cycling has a broad multicultural appeal that receives worldwide media attention and gives its sponsors a large enthusiastic audience. Because of cycling being a lifelong activity, which appeals to children, families and adults, it reaches a large audience that goes beyond traditional demographics.
Cycling offers its sponsors the opportunity to promote both their brand and service in one of the largest spectator sports in the world. Over 65 million people attend cycling events worldwide. Lance Armstrong’s multiple Tour de France victories coupled with his victory over cancer have helped spur both the public's and the media’s interest in elite cycling. The time is right to increase sales through brand recognition, visibility, and promotion via affiliation with the cycling team at The University of Tennessee. Collegiate and regional races also offer a tremendous amount of exposure. One of the largest regional races is the Athens Twilight criterium which is attended by over 30,000 spectators and is in it’s 30th year. The Nalley Historic Roswell Criterium and the Greenville Cycling Classic are both attended by more than 10,000 spectators. Collegiate Nationals is also attended by more than 5,000 spectators.
PROMOTING YOUR BRAND
Team uniforms prominently display this identity along with all team vehicles and promotional items such as tee shirts, hats, and socks. The brand recognition within the media becomes an integral part of the identification of the team by their loyal fans. Those fans will be cheering your brand at numerous events throughout the southeast and the rest of the country, identifying with your organization in a positive manner. Cycling offers your company a healthy, environmentally sound, technologically innovative and highly exciting sport.
The goal of the cycling team at The University of Tennessee is to increase media exposure to your target audience. The largest demographic in the cycling fan base is affluent, upscale and well educated with a medium household income of over $80,000, a medium age of 38 and a college graduate profile of 91%** Competitive cyclists must contend with speed and danger and display superhuman athleticism, creating an exciting medium to reach your desired audience.
Our team is more than a vehicle for media exposure. Team members can be made an integral part of your company’s marketing strategy by promoting your branded products and services on a one to one basis. The distribution of corporate information, posters and samples during events and travel impacts customers on a personal “grass roots” level, fans cherish their moment with the elite athlete. Combine this exposure with an articulate and outgoing group of elite athletes and you have company representatives any organization would be proud to have.
Our athletes can be used for product demos, trade shows and presentations with potential clients. The team also offers a business building opportunity at major events in which your company’s employees and potential customers can experience firsthand the breathtaking speeds. The team can become involved in corporate charity functions and humanitarian causes. The impact on employees associated with a team that gets results will definitely build morale and camaraderie within your organization. This in turn can be used as a customer and employee benefit as a way to differentiate your organization from your competitors.
CYCLING INFORMATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS FACTS ABOUT CYCLING
• One of the most popular and fastest growing sports in the USA.
• The second most popular recreational activity in the world.
• There are more cyclists in the US than skiers, golfers, and tennis players combined.
TYPICAL CYCLING AUDIENCE**
• 90 million cyclists in the US
• 65 million people attend professional/elite level cycling events
• 6 million bicycle commuters
• 250,000 competitive adult cyclists in the US
• 1 in every 3 Americans owns a bike
US CYCLIST DEMOGRAPHICS**
• The average US cyclist is young and affluent:
• 85% are between the ages of 25-54
• 63% are between 25 and 44
• 55% are male; 45% are female
• 63% are professional managers
• 90% have attended college
• 39% have post-graduate degrees
• 52% rate their brand loyalty as high
• $80,000 Median household income for cyclist
• 50% own a truck and/or SUV
P1000056
**Sources: Velonews, Bicycle Business Journal, Bicycle Manufacturers Association of America, Bicycle Market Research
Institute, Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, Cycle Press, JETRO-New York, National Bicycle Dealers Association, National
Sporting Goods Association, Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, US Dept. of Commerce
ADVERTISING PACKAGES
TITLE SPONSOR (1): $2000
PRESENTING SPONSOR (1): $1000
SUPPORTING SPONSOR (1): $500
POCKET LOGO (3): $300
ADVERTISING WITH US PROVIDES UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES:
- 10+ Man/Woman cycling team to promote your product or company
- Monthly team updates/newsletters
Distributed by email – add as many addresses as you’d like!
Consists primarily of race reports, though other content such as training and nutrition information can be included upon request.
- Sponsor Description (your wording or ours) and link on team webpage
- Photos, testimonials, etc. available upon request to support your website or other advertising media
- Company literature accessible at racing events
- Team Jersey provided to sponsor at NO CHARGE! (Title Sponsors)
- Team jersey and photo framed for main office! (Title and Presenting sponsors only)
Thank you for your time. We look forward to developing a relationship with you and representing your company in the Southeast and on many podiums throughout the racing season!
