CHEVY REACHES LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP WITH FLW OUTDOORS,
ADDS GROUNDBREAKING ELEMENTS TO SPONSORSHIP
February 9 2005
MINNEAPOLIS (Feb. 9, 2005) — FLW Outdoors, the
world leader in professional tournament fishing, and General Motors
Corporation announced today a strategic marketing partnership and
multiyear sponsorship agreement that makes American-built Chevy vehicles
the official and exclusive tow vehicle of FLW Outdoors and its 214
tournaments spread across eight tournament trails. It will be the
largest and most comprehensive partnership in FLW Outdoors and Chevy’s
10-year history together of creating groundbreaking promotions.
Chevy’s TrailBlazers will continue to be used as tow vehicles
for the Ranger Comanche (Z Series) sponsor boats at all FLW Tour events,
including the Forrest L. Wood Championship, as well as the EverStart
Series Championship and Bass Fishing League All-American. Chevy will
be the title sponsor of the sixth qualifying event on the FLW Tour
– the Chevy Open. Chevy will also hold title sponsorship of the
BFL Wild Card tournament and be the presenting sponsor of the BFL
All-American championship. In addition, Chevy will be the title sponsor
of FLW Outdoors’ Fishing Challenge, an online fantasy fishing
game.
FLW Outdoors and Chevy will also present “Chevy Pro Night”
at local Chevy dealerships across the country where FLW tournaments
are held as well as sponsor a professional angling team that will
be managed by FLW Outdoors and compete in the 2005 FLW Outdoors season.
Chevy pro team anglers will sign autographs and offer fishing tips
to those who attend Chevy Pro Night events. The 2005 Chevy pro team
consists of legendary anglers Jimmy Houston, Dion Hibdon, Larry Nixon,
Kim Stricker and Luke Clausen.
Houston has been a well-known figure in the outdoor world for nearly
30 years. He won his first pro fishing tournament in 1966 and was
inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in 1990.
Hibdon, a celebrated angling icon, claimed first place at the FLW
Tour Championship on the Red River in Shreveport, La., in 2000. He
has also claimed a Bassmaster Classic title, winning the 1997 event
held on Logan Martin Lake in Pell City, Ala. Nixon, widely considered
one of the founding fathers of pro bass fishing, has won two FLW Tour
events and has earned $2,084,983 fishing FLW Outdoors and BASS events.
Stricker is a veteran angler who has fished more than 53 FLW Outdoors
events since 1995 and has earned more than $250,000 fishing on both
major tours. Clausen is coming off a win at the 2004 FLW Tour Championship
where he took home the sport’s largest award - $500,000.
Chevy pros can be seen at FLW Outdoors tournaments in NASCAR-style
Chevy tow vehicles with matching Ranger Z-Comanche Series boats, new
to the market.
As more than 52 million Americans spend time on the water every year,
businesses are seizing an opportunity to reach a segment of consumers
known for their loyalty to sponsor products. Through the support of
corporate sponsors like Chevy, competitive fishing has exploded and
FLW Outdoors continues to grow with the largest purses in the history
of the sport. In 2005, FLW Outdoors is offering a total purse in excess
of $30 million.
Steve Tihanyi – general director, marketing alliances and regional
operations for General Motors Corporation – said: “With
more than 50 percent of FLW Outdoors anglers driving Chevy trucks,
it is clear that we have a strong and committed partnership with professional
anglers as well as the millions of outdoor enthusiasts and their families
throughout America. Chevy will continue to demonstrate our loyalty
and commitment to those individuals and families who have a passion
for, and enjoy, the outdoor lifestyle of fishing. As we have for over
25 years, we remain steadfast in our support and sponsorship in promoting
and marketing fishing as one of America’s largest outdoor activities.”
As a sponsor, Chevy will be featured in a variety of media formats
maintained by FLW Outdoors. Chevy will appear on the “FLW Outdoors”
television show that will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net as well as
the American Forces Network, the latter reaching over 800,000 service
men and women stationed around the world in 177 countries and aboard
naval ships. Chevy products will also be publicized and featured through
FLW Outdoors Magazine, FLWOutdoors.com, the FLW Tour Family Fun Zone
in Wal-Mart parking lots, on-site signage at tournaments, angler-award
programs, and inclusion in promotional and public relations materials.
Irwin L. Jacobs, chairman of FLW Outdoors, said: “Chevy was the
first nonendemic company to sponsor FLW Outdoors 10 years ago. Chevy
also was the first infinity marketing partner with the Ranger Boats
company almost 25 years ago. No one can deny that Chevy was, and continues
to be, a leader and a pioneer as one of America’s first and largest
corporations to recognize the importance and opportunities in supporting
the millions of individuals and their families in America who enjoy
fishing as a professional sport and or as a participant with a passion
for the outdoors.
“FLW Outdoors is strongly committed to helping Chevy continue
to grow their market share among the 52 million outdoor enthusiasts
and their families and introduce them to America’s No. 1 trucks.”
For more information on FLW Outdoors and its tournament programs,
visit FLWOutdoors.com
or call (270) 252-1000.
Wal-Mart and many of America’s largest and most respected companies
support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart signed on
as title sponsor of the FLW Tour in 1997 and today is the title sponsor
of all FLW Outdoors events. For more information on Wal-Mart, visit
Wal-Mart.com.
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