Whats the Hold Up with Verzion?

[IRL Ricky]

With the racing season underway you would think that, if Verizon and Indycar want to challenge Sprint/NASCAR, they would've already annouced their title sponsorship deal and begun "marketing" the new Verizon Indycar Series!

Them not doing so in extremely frustrating to say the least! :mad:

Rick

[Colin Grigson]

Maybe it's not happening? Cavin got it wrong? Who knows ?

[Indy-hp]

$$

[Z28]

Maybe Verizon will sign on and all will be well. This despite the fact I don't see the return for them based on where the series is right now combined with their past experiences with title sponsors. Nobody is looking up a Pep Boys location on Northern Light while wearing IZOD shirts.

If there's a holdup what I would be hoping for would be Verizon wanting a far greater control over what the series does. There's no denying they run their business better than INDYCAR has been run, well since it was begun.

For those who think Verizon wants to use INDYCAR as a vehicle to battle Sprint, Verizon can look at where NASCAR has Sprint Cup races and see it's not an equal fight. While INDYCAR hunts for the promoters who will pay their sanctioning fee I'm just guessing Verizon would be less concerned with that or street.road/oval than they are which markets they reach. They have to see the vast regions of the country that, despite the number of street races which could be set up anywhere, INDYCAR is absent from. And doubleheaders to get to 18 races just reduces the number of markets they reach.

[IRL Ricky]

Well, I'm looking forward to hopefully adding a cool looking Verizon Indycar Series polo to go along with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series polo that I have! Hopefully sooner than later!

Rick

[mdkiel]

Somewhere in the blurb about this deal I read that the announcement would be at St. Pete. No linky tho....feel free to search.

[TimmyZ1]

Somewhere in the blurb about this deal I read that the announcement would be at St. Pete. No linky tho....feel free to search.

+1 I saw something along the lines of "We are hoping by St. Pete to announce the title sponsor" From some interview I read/heard with Miles

[Fro]

Maybe it's not happening? Cavin got it wrong? Who knows ?

Both Miller & Cavin have reported it. It's clearly something Miles or someone pretty high up told both of them directly was "all but a done deal".

[FourCamFord]

They are planning a giant PR stunt at St Pete, where just before the race, a huge banner will be hung and unfurled across the track at SF. The banner will read, "Our new series sponsor is ....." in front of the crowd and on ABC television. People will be talking about it for weeks and Verizon will enjoy increased sales.

[Scuff]

I hope being two days late paying my bill didn't hold up the announcement.

[ambig88]

I got tired of waiting and switched to T-Mobile.

[IRL Ricky]

I watched about 2 hrs of tv last night and saw 3 Verizon commercials! I also saw 3 missed opportunities for Verizon to promote their sponsorship of Indycar!

I would think that now is the time to get the word out, before the season starts!

Rick

[THE BEAR]

I watched about 2 hrs of tv last night and saw 3 Verizon commercials! I also saw 3 missed opportunities for Verizon to promote their sponsorship of Indycar!

I would think that now is the time to get the word out, before the season starts!

Rick

Spot on Ricky....which leads one to believe that it can't be Verizon; or that if there is some deal involving Verizon it is for a couple of races.....that the league is selling the thing 'piece meal'. It just doesn't make any sense to have a deal and not roll it out prior to the start of the season. Create anticipation; not unfurl a banner across the start finish line at St Pete (with a collective audience of 200,000 souls) as someone jokingly suggested. That just doesn't make any sense.

Of course, I am ready for anything with these guys. Indy Car brought to you by the Sprint Cup Nascar Series? (Hey, it IS a recognizable name!)

[TimmyZ1]

Per Cavin at the end of the article he just posted. Everything is still on track and it will be announced before St. Pete

[Ferrari]

I don't understand why Verizon and IndyCar would wait until the first race weekend to announce major sponsorship deal. History has shown that these types of deals are announced months in advance. Verizon even announced their partial sponsorship deal with Montoya and Penske on February 10. I'm bit skeptical this will turn out to be title sponsorship.