In an attempt to "build its motorsports business," IMG
will help the IRL and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
"develop a more lucrative" TV package, according to Denise
Melilli of CRAIN'S CLEVELAND BUSINESS. The IRL will
utilize the services of Trans World Int'l (TWI), IMG's TV
arm. IRL Dir of PR Mai Lindstrom: "They were retained
because they have a lot of experience with negotiating TV
contracts. Our television negotiations are unique in that
we have (two) night races, and those events are more
intricate to negotiate." IMG Senior Corporate VP & IMG
Motorsports President Bud Stanner: "We're trying to make the
IRL better and stronger." Melilli noted that TWI will be in
charge of landing a TV deal for the IRL's Radisson 200 in CO
which runs the same day as IMG's Medic Drug Grand Prix in
Cleveland. The Medic Drug CART race will be moved from ABC
to ESPN this year, but Stanner said that he doesn't believe
that moving the race from network to cable will hurt IMG's
sponsorship sales for the race (CRAIN'S CLEVELAND, 10/19).
CHANGING GEARS: The SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Bill King
examines IMG's foray into NASCAR after acquiring NC-based
Marketing Performance Group. IMG Motorsports VP Denny
Young: "We're well aware of the growth that's been happening
in NASCAR -- and we weren't on the ground there. ... Now we
can represent our clients all the way through the process."
IMG "concedes" that "taking a sponsor into NASCAR may result
in lost revenues" for its CART properties, but the company
feels that "improved sponsor satisfaction would make up for
the loss" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 10/26 issue).
