What's wrong with Offshore. We have Fans, people but why not the sponsors?
 

Not in a bad way in an advertising way... I know there are a few big sponsors out there but I'm really shocked not to see more.

I have a buddy whose kid who was getting 35K a year at 14yrs old to run a Monster Sticker on his helmet and bike, this year he’s getting more from Rockstar!! (Same company as Monster in case you’re wondering)

I have worked with Yamaha of Troy and one of there riders is getting 100k plus for the same Helmet sticker deal… a tinny little sticker that you cannot see unless your 5ft away!

I just can’t believe sponsors are not lining up to get there names on the sides of boats. We have pits and people that are way more accessible and friendlier than any other motorsports... we have a 30ft plus billboard that is perfect for any company’s wrap; we offer advertising even while towing our boat to the races... Last year I could not stop and get gas without being asked question about the boat or people taking pictures of it.

I know we don’t have a TV deal like Supercross, but can you really even see the logo’s on a Supercross Bike? NO, HELL NO you can’t.

Just Venting..

simple..we havent marketed ourselves to the people doing the markleting...

I am in DEEP right now with the Marketing World. Deep meaning I have probably paid them more than I'll ever see back. I am beginning to believe it's who you know.

I have done this before with a Few MX/SX teams I worked with.. I was able to get 10k for a 2 x 5 inch sticker on a rear fender along with product; plus Magazine picture bonus $$$ for riders that are good, not great; but National number good.

But for some reason I cant get Monster, Unbound, Bad Boy and a few other Energy drink company I have worked with in the past to see a offshore boat IS there ideal demographic and the return on there dollar would be far better than any 2 x 5 in sticker on a helmet.

Hate to say it, but MX is a lot more accessible to the average person than offshore racing.. Any joe schmoe with a tax return can stop by their local yamahama dealer and be the next big deal.. its not as easy with offshore, i think thats the reason that you see so many more advertising dollars is because of the amount of amateurs in the sport wanting to get to the top and look just like the big guys.. think of the number of racer replicas bein sold today.. name ONE racer replica that you can buy from a powerboat company?

the entire industry is going to have to step up, not just the marketing gurus..

Better Days are coming my friend, for the last 5 months we have been promoting the Patchogue race and Offshore in general. We must look at the positive aspects that have happened in the last few years. Smitty has built the OPA into a major force in the Offshore arena, Haggin has brought us the Miss Geico Triple Crown Series among a huge list of other perks, Ed "the evil one" Smith and the Michigan crew has built St Claire into a monster event and are adding the Harrison Township race, the Maryland boys run 2 events that are awesome! Ocean City and Cambridge. The Jersey Boyz are working on kicking up Pt Pleasent back to the Legendary Offshore event it historically is, last but not least the Patchogue team are going to produce a race that will have the Offshore Gods Smiling from the Heavens!! We are out there pushing for sponsors and advertisers 24-7. T.V., Radio, every local mag and newspaper we can find. People tell you things are slow? How are they going to get busier if they don't advertise? It's the responsibility of everyone to promote our sport , the more people hear about it the more they want to get involved, that goes for sponsors too!
What the hell is wrong with Offshore Racing? Nothing, Louie

PS What the hell is a Yamahama? lol

Oh and please forgive me but there are a lot of people who I did not mention who have been extremely instrumental in bringing us all to the place we are now, I salute you and thank you, Louie

Louie I’m not saying offshore racing is broken in any way, I’m just wondering why the outside sponsorship dollar is so difficult to get.

Offshore may not have the big TV contract but it does draw its fair share of fans and even the curious onlooker, getting 5/10/15/20k from a Energy Drink Company, Vitamin Outlet, Health food store or even a fast food restaurant should be a no brainier but for some unknown reason they don’t see offshore a solid advertising investment.

I know there are a few boats out there with good deals, but with what this sport has to offer “most every boat” should have a few good deals!

Hey Rick, I agree with you 100%, I watch lawn mower racing on speed vision and the guys racing are loaded with sponsors,
hey more power to them. I think with the guys we have in our sport sponsors will be attainable. Thing is we have to give them there moneys worth and be proffesional and keep them.
Look at the premier team in Offshore right now. They make every event, Haggin, Scotty B., Marc and the Geico girls are out there signing autographs mixing it up with the fans. We are gearing up to do the same, we make parades, sign autographs and promote, promote, promote. We have some big name sponsors checking us out, hopefully it turns into something, we also have some smaller ones too, every little bits helps. Get your team cards ready, get some tee shirts and we can all make this sport the best it's ever been.
Louie

Rick it takes a lot of work....we are in a sport that dose not have a good record....I have talked to a number of marketing companys that have looked into Offshore racing and have come back with....its just not a good investment...

When we had Speedvision for TV and GMC as a series sponsor...it was a lot easier....When you have a big name as a Series sponsor it shows marketing companys that they are investing there own money for there company....and so you know, TV is a hudge part of it.....when you can approach a potention sponsor and tell them your being promoted thur a major TV company with a hudge demigraphics, it play in a big way....

Smitty and OPA are doing a great job....you have to remeber...we are on a long climb back up to were we where in 2001 - 2003 with exposure....

Right know the best thing you can do is promote your team with the companys around ouR sport....Like:

Gieco
Bud Select
Citron Energy Drink

You need to show potental sponsors who is out there now sponsoring and backing our sport.....

Even if you have to go and target local companys which towns we are racing in...go after them and show them the turn out from there own town from years past....it may be only a 1k here and 2k there....but these are furture associate sponsors you will have year in and year out as your team grows and lands bigger sponsors...and remeber.....these big companys see thousands of proposels each year for sponsorship....you have to have your proprosal down perfected...and if you get a change fOR someone to listen to you....you have to knock them off there feet about what you can do for them.....

But its like golf....you have to stay calm no matter how crappy the outcome....keep asking your self what can I do better and apply it.....if gettting sponsors were so easy....we all would have them.......

Don't give up....we are seeing good and big things with OPA....

Sorry for comparing this to MX/SX but that’s what I personally know and have worked with in the past and currently.

The Avg. Motocross fan is
18-26yrs old
Single
High School Educated
Making 26-32k per year.
Own Bike - Yes

The Avg. Boater (From Michigan) Boat Town USA
34-42 yrs old
Married
2 kids
Some Collage
Making 68-74k per year.
Own Boat - Yes

Who would you target your product to? The single kids living pay-check to pay check? Or the older established family man with extra capital to burn? This is what puzzles me..

I think it is very hard for an average team to give a sponsor it's money worth. We don't have the time or resources to be the "big show" that most want. I believe we would be best served to market the OPA as a whole and with major sponsors. Spend the $ on building an outstanding product, raise the prize $, get travel $ and then individual sponsors.

As a whole we have buying power. We should negotiate deals with hotel chains, parts suppliers, tire stores, etc for group discounts. Racing cost me over $25k last year without the boat cost. You spread that over 50-70 teams and you have some clout.

reality
 

reality is it should be companys like merc and the manufactures stepping up first. your comparing mx/sc these sports all have factory teams and the factories all support the priviteers that run their brand. merc is a billion dollar business and what do they really give for running their stuff. merc dollars to buy their parts at list price??????
in sx/mx if a kawasaki wins people go and buy kawasaki

I think TV coverage on a popular TV Network is the #1 thing that Offshore Powerboat Racing needs. Many people don't even know what Offshore Powerboat Racing is, because they have never seen it before. If it was on general TV Station Network that everyone could get then people would see what it was all about. It's exciting and something new for the viewer's to see but they have to be exposed to it in a big way. I know that it is on some TV Stations but I have never been able to get it in Canada. At one time the GLSCS use to be on TV and also the APBA Offshore Powerboat Races. I use to know the names of drivers and boats because I would see it on TV and was exposed to it. Sponsors can reach millions of viewer's when they have TV coverage and that is what they are looking for to sell their products. Without TV coverage it makes it much harder to get sponsors and TV coverage should be live or at least a week later and at a decent time. I think that if it were broadcast on something like ABC Wide World of Sports, everyone could get the broadcast no matter what TV package you had. Secondly I think that Race Sites have a lot to do with the promotion of the sport of Offshore Powerboat Racing. If people can't see the race up close, then it isn't exciting and people lose interest in it. An old example I'll give is the Detroit Gold Cup Race in 2007. I've been to some good race sites that offered good spectator viewing such as the OPA, BWORA, St. Clair River Race. Then in 2007 I went to the Detroit Gold Cup Race with OPS Racing there, the boats came real close to the spectator's and on a short course that you could see the entire race. It was one of the most exciting races that I have gone to and for those reason I mentioned. I had never seen the Offshore Powerboats come that close to me before while racing. The Air Show put on by one Jet Fighter was also a highlight of the Race. For this reason I have ordered my tickets for the 2008 race again. That's what Offshore Powerboat Racing "MUST" do to get more sponsors.

Louie

Don`t forget the Little guys

Mike

When Smitty twisted my arm to be VP of OPA that first Point Pleasant race had 17 boats but only 12 started. We've come a long way and still have even further to go. It's gonna be a year or two before any big sponsor wants to let go of some ching, when the market comes back. That's what I'm told from my business stand point.

Hey Mike, I didn't forget lol thats why I covered my arse with the second post. It's hard to name everyone in each post, but believe me the show you guys put on in Chattanooga let everyone know just how important you guys are and we are all looking foward to running together this year. Louie

Thank Louie

I know its going to be a great year for boat racing this year.


Mike

I believe that promoting boat racing in the Northeast can do nothing but help the sport.. No offense to everybody else, but there is alot of potential in the Long Island area. Nobody has any money these days, until it comes to play time. You can't compare all the BMX stuff to boat racing, slightly different price bracket, but it can be done. Last years Patchogue race was a home run. You guys generated alot of interest in the area, keep with it. Anywhere I could help, please don't hesitate to ask Brett

I can’t speak for the amount of money involved in BMX But in SX/MX there is much more money than you realize. One rider turned down a 1.2mil a year from deal from an Energy drink company because it was "insulting deal"


Target Stores have stepped up and put down some big $$$$ to sponsor a single ride. For what? To get a logo on a GLOVE!! ???

You have to think outside the box to make it work.

Mike

Hey Brett,
Thanks for the compliment and the offer, we can always use help, Patrol boats and help on the shore too. Rick I think what Brett was saying is the amount of money we spend on our equipment in offshore is substantially more then a BMX racer,
it's probably more then most racing out there. I guess what is on all of our minds is how come a guy with a souped up lawn mower or a $3000.00 bicycle ( which he probably gets for free), can attract million dollar sponsors and we have million dollar equipment and we are sticking on decals for a few hundred bucks. I'm baffled, I guess all we can do is do our best to change it. Maybe it has to do with the constant battle to keep race sites alive when our fellow racers in other fields have a constant place ot race with out all the effort we go through? I often thought it might be how we handle ourselves,
you know maybe a little to wild at times but look at pro wrestling, can't get much more controversial then those guys.
Like I said before it's up to us to go out there and bring in the sponsors and keep swinging, look at the positives, like Augie said, we have grown tremendously and a lot of great things have happened, we just have to keep at it. Louie

BINGO! Thants my question.

I don’t want to post 'too much" but I spoke with a Leading Energy Drink CEO Friday (this is what started this thread)

I think I’m going to have my boat decaled up saying how Energy Drink’s kill and damage your liver..

Guy's I'm working on something with Smitty's blessing to promote OPA/The Jersey Boyz/Offshore Racing even more but it's all gonna take time. Sponsors don't want to see fighting and bull$hit when and if they come on to OSO, show them we are professionals in a crazy kind of way. The Jersey Boyz and OPA did everything with our racers in mind, family fun but we run hard. We're even nice once in a while. They want to see other teams working all night to get another teams boat running for the next days race. People have forgotten that and what it has taken to get as far as we have in just four years. Guy's, keep being positive and the sponsors will come, it's gonna take a little more time but I feel it will happen and me, Smitty, Louie The Rigger and Evil Ed are gonna work our a$$es off to try and make this happen (and you all know my a$$ is getting bigger each year) John Haggin has proved this is all possible and he supports OPA/The Jersey Boyz 100%. Thanks Haggin. Thank You all for your support of OPA/The Jersy Boyz. We're gonna have a KICK ASS 2008 Season. You guy's (and ladies) are THE BEST!

Again guys....I don't thing you know how hard you have to work to even get one sponsor....If you think you can just call up a company or send in a proposal and expect to get a sponsor its just not going to happen....you may have to talk to 100 potential sponsors and of them, maybe 70 will tell you to send a proposal....of them 10 may want to talk some more, of them maybe one of them we give it to ya and under there terms...

If we as racers put in the time, effert and money that OPA spends to put on one race...alot of us would see we can get sponsors....but its just that....it takes alot of time, when most racers have a full time job the way it is...and yes...you are going to have to put up your own money to put a good proposal together...plus you will find yourself buying plane tickets to offer to meet them in person....plus expenses....

Yes its nice to hire a PR person to go out and get you sponsors and just pay them a % of what they bring in...but you first need to make your team marketable....

For evey 1 thing you can bring up is possitive for your team....a company will ask you 10 things why you could be a risk....

Guys.....if you think a million doller company is going to have you market them and they no nothing about you....be ready up front...

They are going to do such a long background check on you just for starters....

I'm not being negitive about it....it can be done and is being done in our sport....but we seem to always be putting the blame on the Organization we race in....

From the entry fee's are to high...
The prize money's not enough....
There's not good TV.....
People who run the Orgs are making money.....

We all could help for one....and market our teams in a perfessional way that will help OPA sell us to a big name sponsor....

Agian....I'm not trying to sound negitive to Rick or anyone else...but if you want money from sponsors....be ready to put in alot of time and work to get it....the same time, work and effert it takes to run a Organiztion or put on a race....

And Rick....this is a good thread.....alot of good info can come out of a post like this and give some teams ideas which way to go....
OPA has always had a open door policy....and discusssing things that can help us both are good things....but remeber....we first have to put on a show...and I thing last year was a pretty damm good one....and will help OPA for 2008.....and we have to even make it a better show this year....we as racers need to do what ever we can to make as many races as we can....we all agree the boat count is a must in our sport....having 10 to 12 boats in 6 class's will make for a great show....and close racing on top of that is a success waiting to happen....

If any racers needs any help to make it to a race or needs parts to make it to a race....you know OPA is the place to speak up and tells us what you need....and we will get you there....we don't want to leave any racers behind and miss a race becasue you don't have the money for a part...or you can't afford a hotel rooms....If we stay together and grow as a Org. things will fall into place....even if you can't get any sponsors.....the Bigger OPA gets you know the bigger the prize money and other benifits get....OPA has shown that in the last few years....

So keep trying and get that boat ready....you Mich boys have some HUNGRY Vess's on the east coast waiting for you guys...

Hey Rigger I luv it when ur politicaly correct ( we're to wild ) those of us who behave like a$$holes know who we are:evilb:

But we're working on it

consistancy is everything if oldman Smitty dosen't look to peel the green bannana too soon and sticks to his guns in 3-5yrs I could be a FAMOUS BOAT RACER !!!!

Hey Gino I need rooms for OC & st clair

Nothing but good vibes and communication in this thread!! :D


The problem I’m getting is trying to get the sponsors to see that this is a real sport with real value in sponsor boats, teams or events. I have spoken with people I have worked with in the past that have will sign a check in a week if we were to start a Supercross/MX Team but shy away when asked to support a Offshore boat, They just don’t get it! It’s just aggravating trying to get these potential sponsors to see the value in Offshore racing.

I will keep plugging along and I’m going to meet with the Monster guy 1 more time when the Detroit Supercross rolls into town in a few weeks and with the DVD proposal and video I had made up that condenses all the information into a 7min format I’m hopping to get and keep his attention long enough to finish a conversation. (Plus I’ll be sending the DVD out to others) :D

You guys haven't given my dilemma a thought, I've been picking up sponsors left and right, I just keep using them for the race instead of our boat!!:(:p Well it's all good, I keep hitting this crane guys wife up for money and so far so good!
I even had to give up my rights to the TV remote controller, can't say I'm not dedicated. Keep swinging Rick!
Louie

Excellent thread.I really think that in order for our sport to attract corporate sponsorship,we have to continue to improve our product.We need to capitalize on the things that make our motorsport unique.The appeal has always been boats not only racing each other;but battling the elements of the open ocean as well.OPT in the late eighties televsied some rough water races that recieved rave reviews.I remember my friends in college saying to me...that is so wild...it is so much more exciting than car racing...I wish it was on TV more!In this era of extreme sports,offshore powerboat racing has a ton of potential.I agree that the show is an important part of the package;but the emphasis needs to be on the racing.We need to build a strong fan base and present ourselves as professionals. Everything else will take care of itself.

Hey what's the number to that crane guy's wife? :evilb:

Hey Garbageman.......I have your room already....just bring your sleeping bag and I'll clean out the back of my truck....
Only the best for you.......

Rick don't feel bad.....

If you watched yesterdays race you would see....that even one of Yate's teams has no sponsor on there car....he had "11 million" on the hood of the car....to let potentail sponsors see how many people a week watch NASCAR.....

Another team only has sponsorship till the Talidaga race....so you see its hard for everyone....

Rick you have a advantage.....you have 2 races in Mich. this year.....you should hit local sponsors that will put up some money for you....especailly when your a local racers....I would be hitting up a ton of local companys in your area..even if its for $500 to 1k....and do some promotion with there companys while you and the boat are around....
it not bad picking up 4 to 7k from just local sponsors.....

Also...if your in it for the long hall......every time you go to a race site....talk to the owner of any place that has racers and more customers then the norm....and tell him thanks for the hospitality....make an impression on him and the week after the race call him and thank him again....and tell him next year will be even bigger....and start working on him for the next year for sponsrship.....its easier to get a potental sponsor excited about putting up his money when the excitment is still in his mined and he has just seen how it benifited his business....

There is nothing wrong with going after the big one in getting sponsors....but you will be suprised on how much easier it is to get the locals for a small spot on your boat....it will also help you when your proposal has a list of all of your current sponsors...

It's 1-800-EATMYROOSTERTAIL lol I ain't giving up my sponsors!:p

Well said Mark :D

I think it certainly helps to have more boats in bigger classes with tight races. I commend OPA with their rules and a commitment to keep to them.

A class like SCL we ran or the new 850 class could also help promote things with strict rules and affordability to a lot of racers. Strict rules and WHATEVER it takes to make the racing close. The weight penalty rules APBA put in place may have not been popular - but they sent a message that the races better be close and even if we can't catch you cheating you will be punished.

what better way to get people interested in racing boats than too put them in a Reindl bat boat.Let them get out there and get a taste of it.I did it and now I'm hooked and racing this season in my own boat.Got friends that dream about it?Tell them to contact chris. No! Chris did not pay me for this.

Heater, that's how I go into it. Back around 2000 Chris had 6-7 of his boats in St Clair and they put on a hell of a show. I told my wife I'm gonna do that. A few years later, I did. If anyone is interested in giving it a try, call Chris.

PT109 Raced a Batboat in Patchogue and he hasn't stopped talking about it! LOL I want to try one myself!! Louie

Hey Rigger I'll get in with ya but I'm on the sticks. I bet we could get it to spin.

It's called spectator numbers and TV air time. I have been in and watching this sport for many years and it's always up and down. We had a great thing going with the old A and B class boats.....heck We would have 12- 15 B class boats alone!! The Silver Cup races at times had seen 65-80 boats!! We would have never had these class go away if the right people would have been in charge back then....It's a Darn shame!! We had real class racing with set engine cubic inch rules, weight, and length. It was competitive, fun, and growing! I hope it all comes back. OPA has done a fantastic job keeping things alive! Unfortunately, it is so hard to get Marketing Partners now a days, believe me I know first hand. I am currently working on a multi- million dollar deal to get back into NHRA Pro Stock Racing and it's not easy. And I have some of the best marketing people in the biz behind me. Just keep up the hard work and spirit and things will grow!!:cool-smiley-027::drink: