The Chicago Triathlon is feeling the pinch of the economic meltdown. The prestigious event has yet to secure a title sponsor for the 2009 race.
“It’s a tough economy, as we’re all aware,” said Jan Caille, president of Capri Events, the Chicago-based firm that owns and organizes the city’s triathlon event, which took place in August.
According to the Chicago Tribune:
"Banks and financial service firms are out of the running, given the
recent meltdown in that sector. Other industries such as airlines and
auto manufacturers are also struggling and therefore re-examining where
to spend marketing funds.
That makes it tougher for most sponsored athletic events to land a
corporate partner to foot the bill and provide services such as
marketing and even volunteers.
“All marketing spending is going to be put under the microscope,”
said Mark Nystuen, a principal at marketing firm Kineo Group in
Chicago.
Capri Events is now without a primary backer for what is billed as the world’s largest triathlon held on a single day. Accenture’s three-year title sponsorship agreement ended this year and it decided not to renew."
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