Sponsorship Opportunities

Become a Supporting Sponsor for the 2009 NorthShore University HealthSystem Grand Prix

Build awareness by promoting your company at one of the largest public sporting events on the North Shore. Direct community contact is an effective way to build brand awareness. Evanston and Chicago North Shore residents are highly educated, physically active and more affluent than most area markets. They pay attention to organizations that participate in local events and community involvement is a key quality that residents regularly weigh in their purchasing decisions.

Last summer the NorthShore Grand Prix of Cycling attracted nearly 20,000 spectators for full day of professional bicycle racing. Downtown Evanston was transformed as residents and visitors cheered on more than 500 cyclists from 20 different countries in a festival-like atmosphere.

The NorthShore Grand Prix returns on Sunday, July 19, 2009. Supporting sponsorship opportunities are now available for your company or client to be a part of this dynamic event.

Evanston has a unique "European" downtown which inherently attracts visitors from adjacent areas, including Chicago and the affluent suburbs to the immediate north and west. Our 2008 Spectator Survey showed that 62% of attendees reported household incomes over $100,000, while 84% were college graduates.

Bicycle racing events typically attract a higher income, younger, college-educated audience. Cycling events are well suited to sponsors in part because cycling teams are identified by their sponsors' names. Sponsors' logos and messages appear throughout the course on banners and in the race announcer's commentary over the public address system.

Spectators Make a Day of the Event!
The race takes over downtown Evanston, local restaurants provide alfresco dining along the course, local retailers run specials and the best seat in the house is the exhibit area near the start/finish. Sponsors get great access to attendees. Sign up today: Contact Jim Marsh at 847.475.9672 or click here to email.

Supporting Sponsorships

Supporting Sponsorship helps cover the ICC's "site fee," the City's costs of providing police and traffic management, and additional expenses for hosting an event of this size. In exchange for this support, supporting sponsors receive the following benefits:

Supporting Sponsor Benefits

• Promotional Materials
  Sponsor's name or logo included in promotional materials, such as rack cards, race programs, t-shirts, course signage and posters. Promo materials are distributed throughout Evanston/Chicago metro area.
• Web Site
  Sponsor logo and link to website featured on the official event website www.northshoregrandprix.com.

• On-Course Race Banners
  Sponsor logo featured prominently on three 3' x 8' banners posted along the public barricades in the start/finish area.
• Exhibit Space
  A 10' x 10' tent in a high traffic area of the course to display products and interact with the public. Tent, staffing or product displays are to be provided by the sponsor (additional space available for extra fee).
• Public Address Announcements
  The ICC's nationally popular race announcers will thank the sponsor for their support of the event in a minimum of 3 public address system announcements during the day, as well as in an interview with a spokesperson either on-stage or at sponsor booth.  
• Prize Money Sponsorship
  Supporting Sponsorship includes funding for 1 "Prime" or lap sponsorship (additional lap sponsorships are $250 each).  Each lap sponsorship includes an announcement of the sponsor and a brief message to the audience.
• Additional Activation
  Supporting Sponsors have the opportunity to expand their presence by sponsoring high profile turns and other event services.
• Follow Up Reports
  All sponsors receive a detailed report on the event including results from surveys of spectators, an audit of press and blog coverage and copies of all promotional materials.

Interested in being a part of this stellar event as a sponsor?

To Sign Up For Sponsorship

Jim Marsh of Grotto Communications
Director of Marketing, Turin Bicycling Society
847.475.9672 or click here to email

Details listed here are for informational purposes only. Any final sponsorship contract or proposal must be accepted in writing by the promoting organization, The Turin Bicycling Society.

“Last year's event was gorgeous just to look at! It was the classiest affair you could have in downtown Evanston. People who came were overjoyed with what they saw. They became very enthusiastic as they watched the riders who came from around the world to race!”
   - Evanston's former mayor Lorraine H. Morton

 

NorthShore University HealthSystem Grand Prix

The NorthShore University HealthSystem Grand Prix is Stage 10 of the renowned Point Premium Root Beer International Cycling Classic. Known as "Super Week" the ICC consists of 17 bicycle races in 17 cities over 17 days in mid-July. "Super Week" runs concurrent with the Tour De France and attracts more than 165,000 spectators watching 5,500 competitors from 40 states and 20 foreign countries as they compete for $125,000 in prizes. The NorthShore Grand Prix is one of the premier races in series, a favorite with fans and riders alike.

 

Top photo by Jon Hillenbrand