INTRODUCTION

The Professional MTB Gravity Racing Tour (PRO GRT) recognizes the best professional gravity mountain bike athletes competing on U.S. soil by employing a season-long ranking system to identify overall men’s and women’s series leaders in both downhill and gated disciplines.  As the top national-level gravity mountain bike calendar in the country, the Pro GRT was created to consistently provide world-class athletes with a competitive arena on American soil.

The Pro GRT established a unified national gravity race series based around the alliance of regional mountain bike races across the United States.  With the growing popularity of these races, the Pro GRT will officially unite these events in order to elevate the sport within the United States to global levels.  With this relationship, the Pro GRT will continue to gain prestige, attracting world class riders, sponsors, and media coverage alike.

The Pro GRT will provide significant and exceptional marketing for each event, creating a showcase that will encourage the growth and advancement of US-based riders.   We are committed to developing athlete stars and to building overall awareness & popularity of gravity MTB racing!

Acquired sponsorship is vital for the advancement of the series, the athletes and the sport.  Funding will be directed towards the marketing and promotion of the series itself.  Additional funds will be used for increasing the pro prize purse, and building up the rider & spectator experience.

Recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling is the official governing body for the Pro GRT.

Pro GRT director, Dylan Dean, has devoted years of studying the viability of a nationally unified gravity mountain bike racing series. 

Dylan specifically met with:

• Athletes (Professional & Amateur)
• Event Promoters / Owners
• Sport Organizers
• Action Sports “Industry” Personnel
• “Traditional Sports” Team Owners, Leagues, Event Owners/Operators
• Sanctioning Commission (USA Cycling)

The knowledge and understanding that offering a rewarding amateur racing experience builds the participatory aspects of our sport at a grassroots level, the Pro GRT’s outline to showcase the nation’s & world’s elite racers will take the sport to new levels!

Top Findings:

• Action Sports are the leading sports for the youth & young adult market.
   
• Action Sports are experiencing tremendous growth on all levels:
• Globally, athlete participation, fan interest, media programming, cultural influence & sponsor investment
• Action sports athletes are influential & relevant:
• Evolving celebrities & corporate endorsers.
   
• Explosion of new young talent.
• Action Sports have evolved from grassroots/exhibitions to viable live sporting events

PRO GRT OVERVIEW

USA Cycling, DylanDean & the participating regional events have developed a strategic partnership for the Pro GRT to produce stage & promote the Pro GRT & Events.

Vision

As NASCAR is toAutomotive, Supercross to Motorcycles, Dew  Tour is to Action Sports, the Pro GRT will be to this emerging sport within the United States.

Pro GRT Highlights

• Five(5) to seven (7) major events
• Featuring downhill & gated (dual slalom &/or 4-cross) mountain bike racing events
• Largest national touring event footprint
• Largest cash purse
• Overall series purse award
• USA Cycling point series
• Multi-Tiered, Integrated Marketing Campaign (Network, Cable, Print, Radio, Online, Outdoor & Grassroots)
• Wide-Ranging, Enthusiastic Industry Support

Pro GRT Sports & Disciplines

Each PRO GRT Event Consists of the Following Sports & Disciplines:

• Downhill Racing
• Dual Slalom or 4-Cross Racing

PRO GRT SCHEDULE

2010 Tentative Dates & Locations

• April 24-25 – Port Angeles, Washington
• May 22-23 – Roxbury, New York
• June 26-27 – Tahoe, California
• July 3-4 – Deer Valley, Utah
• July 31 – August 1 – Winter Park, Colorado
• September 11-12 – Whiteface, New York

Six (6) events based around key regional events from across the nation.  The Pro GRT attempt not to conflict with major mountain biking events (World Cups, World Championships, US Open, US Championships, Crankworx)

 

The CoreDisciplines & Biggest Stars of Action Sports Competing for Top Prize Money

Nominated for the “Best New Sporting Event” Award from Sports TravelMagazine!




MARKETING & ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN

Dylan Dean & the Pro GRT are committed to developing athlete stars and to driving overall awareness & popularity of gravity MTB racing.  The Pro GRT will implement a broad, multi-platform, six-figure marketing campaign.

Dylan Dean & Regional Events will promote The PRO GRT through the following channels:



• Television
• National Branding and Tune-in campaigns on Versus, FUELtv, etc?
• TV Commercial (local)
• News spots
  
• Online Video Coverage
• Freecaster.tv
• MTBcut.tv
• PinkBIke.com
   
• Radio
• National / Local promotional through radio stations with the appropriate formats for the target audience
• Offering free lift tickets & expense vouchers as prizes
  
• Print
• On-going presence and promotional activity in the leading action sports titles through our strategic alliance with MTB publications  (Decline, Bike, MBA, Bicycling/Mountain Bike, Dirt Rag, Velonews, etc)
• General Sports publications
• Sports Illustrated, SI for Kids, Outside, BMX publications, etc
• Lifestyle/Music publications
• Blender, Maxim, Spin, Stuff, Men’s Health, Men’s Journal
• Women specific publications
• “Competition” publications & pamphlets
• at local REI, Sports Authority, Princeton Sports, EMS, etc…
• Newspaper Advertisement
  
• Grassroots
• On-site at Regional Grassroots Events nationwide
  
  
• Public Relations
• Continuous efforts to drive brand awareness
  
  
• On-Line
• www.ProGRT.com will host all relevant PRO GRT information along with exclusive content on athletes, etc
• Additional online promotional support will come through PRO GRT partnership (PINNEDmtb.com, etc)
• Web Advertisement
• Viral Marketing
  
• In-Market
• Marketing, advertising, promotional and PR campaigns will run throughout regional media outlets supporting each PRO GRT stop
  
  
• Guerilla Marketing
• Fliers in all available local businesses, telephone poles, schools, etc
• Fliers to Bike Shops
  
  
• Outdoor
• National branding and promotional campaign through assets including billboard, transit, malls, etc
• Banners in key Tourist locations (Airport, Bus Station, Train Station)
  
  

 

 

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITES



PRO GRT Title Sponsorship ex. “ Monster Energy Pro GRT” $CALL  Priority Signage at all Pro GRT Venue Start/Finish areas Free Premier Vendor Space at all events Free Vendor/Team Parking at all events Premier Logo Placement on Pro GRT  race support vehicle Premier Logo Placement on Pro GRT Website Premier Logo placement on Series advertisements Premier Logo placement on all Series-related Marketing –Jerseys, Water Bottles, Swag bags, etc… Premier Logo Placement on Pro GRT Championship Trophy Significant Logo Placement on Event Trophy	Presentation Sponsorship ex. “ Pro GRT presented by HONDA” $CALL Significant Signage at all Pro GRT Venue Start/Finish areas Free Priority Team/Vendor Space at all events Free Vendor/Team Parking at all events Prominent Logo Placement on Pro GRT race support vehicle Prominent Logo Placement on Pro GRT Website Prominent Logo placement on Series advertisements Prominent Logo placement on all Series-related Marketing – Jerseys, Water Bottles, Swag bags, etc… Logo Placement on PRO GRT Championship Trophy Priority Logo Placement on Event Trophy	Corporate Sponsorship $CALL Signage at all Pro GRT Venue Start/Finish areas Free Team/Vendor Space at all events Free Vendor/Team Parking at all events Logo Placement on Pro GRT race support vehicle Logo Placement on Pro GRT Website Logo placement on Series advertisements Logo placement on all Series-related Marketing – Jerseys, Water Bottles, Swag bags, etc… Logo Placement engraved on PRO GRT Championship Trophy Logo Placement on Event Trophy
Associate Sponsorship $CALL Free Team Vendor Space at all events (10x10) Hyped by announcers and media outlets Logo placement on Series advertisements Logo placement on all Series-related Marketing – Jerseys, Water Bottles, Swag bags, etc… Sponsors displayed on Series trophy Hyped by announcers and media outlets	Support Sponsorship $CALL Free Team Vendor Space at all events (10x10) Logo placement on Series advertisements (Web) Hyped by announcers and media outlets	Donations Product Companies will be permitted to donate product, samples, etc, but will not be listed as official sponsors (unless value of product equals Associate Sponsor or higher (TBD). Product will be used as “give-away” prizes, free samples in the expo, or awards.


2010 EXPENSES


Expo Fee Trailer EZ-up / Tent Awning Lodging Pro GRT Director Expenses (Travel, Food, Lodging,etc) Capital Equipment (non-sponsored items)

Media Services (Video & Photography) Communications Fee (Mobile & Internet) Support Personnel (stipend for services) Design Services Signage

Festival Atmosphere expenses Concert / Live Music Party expenses Advertisements Consumable Equipment

Announcer & Expenses Vehicle Vehicle Expenses (gas, maintenance & repair insurance) General Fund (misc. & unforeseen expenses

DEMOGRAPHICS

Age  1%  8-12 years 6%  13-18 years 11%  19-24 years 23%  25-34 years 52%  35-54 years 6%  55-64 years 1%  65 years and above Gender 88%  Male 12% Female Race 90%  White 3%  Hispanic 2%  African American 3%  Asain 2%  Other

Household Income 7%  Under $45K 15%  $46K - $75K 28%  $76K - $125K 24%  126K - $200K 22%  $201K+ Education Level 5%  High School graduate 14%  Some college 33%  College graduate 48% Graduate school

People Living in Household 14%  None 36%  One 18%  Two 22%  Three 8%  Four 1%  Five 1%  Six or more Household with children 55%  Households with no children under 18 30% households with children under 12 15% Households with children 13-17 years

*Demographic data attained from various outsourced surveys – USA Cycling, Velonews, and other reputable outlets.