The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority's (LVCVA)
"decision to end" its $1.7M sponsorship of the Las Vegas
Motor Speedway's (LVMS) NASCAR Winston Cup and IRL events
"should have little or no impact on the Speedway," according
to Brian Hilderbrand of the LAS VEGAS SUN. LVMS GM Chris
Powell said that he "anticipated having little trouble
finding title sponsorships" for the track's four major
races. Industry "sources" put title rights for Winston Cup
events between $1-1.5M per year, while IRL events "bring in"
about $200,000. Hilderbrand wrote that the IRL race "could
be a tougher sell" than the Winston Cup, as it has lower TV
ratings and "poor attendance" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 5/25).
IRL ADS: ADWEEK's Tim Nudd reports that the IRL's
"first TV spots," from OR-based Wieden & Kennedy, "offer up
brief comic character studies of drivers when they're not"
racing. Four branding spots broke this month, while ten
"more are due" in addition to local TV, print and radio
efforts. Total billings for the campaign, which uses the
tag "You had to be there," are "nearly" $10M (ADWEEK, 5/24).
