The Dodge Brand Races in as Sponsor of 'Rock
'n' Roll Marathon' Events for 2010, 2011
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 2 /PRNewswire/
-- -- 2010 title sponsor of Dodge Rock 'n' Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon
Presented by SunTrust
-- 2010 'Official Automotive Partner' and 'Official Vehicle' for
Philadelphia, Denver and Los Angeles Rock 'n' Roll Marathons series
events
-- 2011 title sponsor of Dodge Rock 'n' Roll Marathon events in San
Diego, Seattle, Virginia Beach, San Jose and Los Angeles
-- 'Official Automotive Partner' and 'Official Vehicle' of 2011 Rock 'n'
Roll Marathons
-- Dodge will reach runners with an integrated marketing and social media
campaign, as well as interactive mobile experience
On "National Running Day," the Dodge Brand today is going the
distance by joining runners across the country as it announces a
partnership with premier endurance sports media and event platform
Competitor Group Inc. (CGI) to sponsor Rock 'n' Roll marathon series in
the 2010 and 2011 calendar years. The sponsorship kicks off with Dodge
as the title sponsor of the Rock 'n' Roll half marathon in Virginia
Beach, Va. on Sunday, Sept. 5 and the brand is committed to the series
of marathons and half marathons throughout the 2011 calendar year.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100602/DE14153
)
As the title sponsor of the half marathon in Virginia Beach, the
event is officially named "Dodge Rock 'n' Roll Virginia Beach Half
Marathon Presented by SunTrust." The race takes place on Sunday, Sept.
5, Labor Day weekend, which also marks the 10th anniversary of the
Virginia Beach Half Marathon. Some 20,000 marathon runners and walkers
are expected to participate.
The 2010 sponsorship agreement includes Dodge as the 2010 "Official
Automotive Partner" and "Official Vehicle" of the Rock 'n' Roll
Philadelphia Half Marathon (Sept. 17-19), Rock 'n' Roll Denver Marathon
and Half Marathon (Oct. 15-17) and Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half
Marathon (Oct. 22-24).
Starting in 2011, Dodge will be the title sponsor of the Rock 'n'
Roll events in San Diego, Seattle, Virginia Beach, San Jose and Los
Angeles. The 2011 partnership includes the Dodge Brand being the
"Official Automotive Partner" and "Official Vehicle" of all other 2011
Rock 'n' Roll Marathons.
"Running is a fun, energetic and healthy sport that reflects many of
our own brand values," said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO, Dodge
Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "This sponsorship gives Dodge an opportunity
to connect with our customers one-on-one, not only as a sponsor, but as a
participant. Many of our Dodge team members, including myself, are
training for the Dodge Rock 'n' Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon. These
runners are living their lives to the fullest, and we're amped to be
part of their experience."
The series of marathons and half marathons revolutionized the running
industry in 1998 with the launch of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San
Diego, which combined entertainment and running in an unprecedented way.
Bands stationed at every mile of the race keep runners and walkers
energized, engaged and entertained. With more than 300,000 runners
participating at 14 events across the nation, it is the largest and most
widely attended marathon series in the world.
"With the Dodge Brand's commitment to innovation, extensive dealer
network and ability to bring fresh eyes to the industry, we couldn't be
more excited to team with them as we present the world's premier series
of running events," said Peter Englehart, CEO of CGI. "Establishing this
sponsorship is further evidence that a new era of running is upon us,
and we anticipate that this will be a long-lasting and multi-faceted
partnership for many years to come."
With an integrated marketing and social media campaign, Dodge will
reach runners through the event's two-day Health & Fitness Expo, as
well as an interactive mobile experience. Dodge also will have a digital
presence online at runrocknroll.com. Visit www.redletterdodge.com for
more information, and follow frequent Dodge Brand updates on Twitter
(@dodge) and www.facebook.com/dodge.
About Dodge
Dodge is a full line of cars, SUVs and MPVs that are agile, daring,
sensible and inventive. The product line includes the Dodge Caliber,
Dodge Avenger, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Dodge Grand Caravan,
Dodge Journey, Dodge Nitro and Dodge Viper SRT10®.
Dodge introduced two new vehicles for the 2009 model year: the
all-new 2009 Dodge Journey, the brand's first crossover vehicle and the
2009 Dodge Challenger, a modern-day American muscle car. Dodge also
celebrated the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model
year. With more than 65 minivan-firsts introduced since 1983 and more
than 12 million Dodge and Chrysler minivans sold, Chrysler Group LLC has
solidified its leadership in the segment. J.D. Power and Associates
further acknowledged this leadership by naming the Dodge Grand Caravan
the Most Dependable Van for 2009. The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan continues
to set the mark in the minivan segment with unsurpassed fuel economy of
17 city / 25 highway mpg and minivan-first innovations including the
segment's only Stow 'n Go® and Swivel 'n Go® seating and storage
systems. The 2010 Dodge Journey and 2010 Dodge Avenger (with ESC) also
earned the 2009 Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.
About The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series
Organized by The Competitor Group, the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series
is famous for lining race routes with live bands and cheerleaders,
massive participant numbers and rocking post race concerts. The original
Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in 1998 is still recognized as the largest
inaugural marathon in history with 19,979 entrants. Over the 13-year
history of the series, more than 75,000 charity runners have raised more
than $219 million for a variety of worthy causes and nonprofit
organizations. Today, the series of marathons and half-marathons has
spread to fourteen cities nationwide. For more information or to
register for an event, please visit www.runrocknroll.com.
About The Competitor Group
Competitor Group, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, CA, is the
leading endurance media and event entertainment company dedicated to
promoting the sports of running, cycling and triathlon. CGI owns and
operates 36 national events delivering more than 350,000 professional
and amateur participants in 2010. CGI publishes four magazine titles
with a combined monthly circulation of over 800,000 and has recently
launched an online endurance community at competitor.com delivering over
1.5 million monthly unique visitors and over 25 million page views.
Further information about Competitor and its media properties can be
found at www.cgimediakit.com.
Additional information and news from Chrysler is available at http://www.media.chrysler.com/.
Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100602/DE14153
AP Archive:
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN15
PRN Photo Desk,
photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Chrysler Group LLC
CONTACT: Dianna Gutierrez, Chrysler Group LLC, +1-248-512-2921
(office),
+1-248-705-7504 (cell), dianna.gutierrez@chrysler.com,
Kristin
Starnes, Chrysler Group LLC, +1-248-512-0889 (office),
+1-248-202-9906 (cell),
kristin.starnes@chrysler.com;
Dan Cruz, Competitor Group, Inc.,
+1-858-768-6425 (office),
+1-619-925-7671 (cell), dcruz@competitorgroup.com
Web Site:
http://www.runrocknroll.com/
