FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- AutoNation, Inc.
(NYSE: AN), the world's largest automotive retailer, announced today it will
be an official, first-time sponsor of the National Football League and of
Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta on January 30, 2000.
The sponsorship -- AutoNation's largest to date -- includes a Super
Bowl XXXIV-themed promotion this fall at AutoNation's more than 390 franchised
automotive dealerships and 42 AutoNation USA used vehicle megastores and
sponsorship of the "NFL Experience," an interactive theme park for fans that's
part of the pre-game festivities leading to the Super Bowl.
AutoNation will also advertise before and during the live broadcast of
Super Bowl XXXIV. Its commercials will include two 30-second spots that will
air during a pre-game show and two 30-second spots that will air during the
game.
"This association with the National Football League and Super Bowl XXXIV,
the premier event in sports, is great for the pre-eminent brand in automotive
retailing, rental and services," said John Costello, President of AutoNation.
"We see a natural partnership here, and an exciting opportunity to present the
AutoNation brand to millions of potential customers."
Added Sara Levinson, President of NFL Properties: "When NFL Properties
identifies emerging sponsorship categories, we seek to align ourselves with
category leaders. Such is the case with AutoNation, a company that is now the
world's largest automotive retailer, which will combine forces with the
country's most popular sport and help support the world's largest single day
sporting event, the Super Bowl."
Based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., AutoNation is a Fortune 100 company (No.
83) with more than $18 billion in annual revenue. AutoNation is also the
leading online retailer of automobiles through its AutoNationDirect.com brand
and its more than 270 dealership web sites. The Company's vehicle rental
businesses include Alamo Rent-A-Car, Inc., National Car Rental System, Inc.
and CarTemps USA, which collectively have operations nationwide and in more
than 65 countries.
SOURCE AutoNation, Inc.