FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sep 6, 2001 /PRNewswire/ --
Sponsorship Kicks Off With Ticket Giveaway for Sept. 8th Football Season Home Opener
AutoNation, Inc.
(NYSE: AN), America's largest automotive retailer, today announced that its 26
"Maroone" dealerships in South Florida will kick off a corporate sponsorship of
the University of Miami's athletic department this weekend with the Hurricanes'
first home game of the college football season.
In honor of the September 8th home opener against the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers
University, Maroone dealerships have been giving away 3,000 game tickets while
supplies last to customers who have been test driving vehicles at any of the 26
Maroone locations in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Additionally, at the first and second quarter break of every Miami Hurricanes
home game, two fans will be randomly selected to participate in the "Maroone
Challenge," a football-related skills event with winners receiving four tickets
to the November 17th final home game against the Orangemen of Syracuse
University. The winners also become eligible to win a two-year vehicle lease
that will be given away during a final Maroone Challenge at the Syracuse game.
"We're honored and excited to be a corporate sponsor of one of the leading
collegiate athletic programs in the country," said Michael E. Maroone,
AutoNation's President and Chief Operating Officer. "This is a 'win-win'
sponsorship for the Hurricanes, AutoNation's Maroone dealerships and for South
Florida sports fans."
The Maroone dealerships' sponsorship of the Hurricanes also includes:
* Maroone signage on the Hurricanes' home scoreboard at the Orange Bowl,
additional Maroone signage and vehicle displays in the Orange Bowl's east end
zone, full-page Maroone ads in game programs and various fan-centered
promotional events.
* On-field recognition of the Maroone corporate sponsorship during the September
15th home game against the Huskies of the University of Washington.
* A trip for two give-away to the October 13th game in Tallahassee, Fla. against
the Seminoles of Florida State University. Entry forms for the trip give-away
are available at all South Florida Maroone locations.
* Three tapings of "The Larry Coker Show," hosted by the Hurricanes' head coach,
from three different Maroone store locations.
* Other signage and promotional opportunities with the University of Miami's
basketball and baseball teams.
About "Maroone"
AutoNation's Maroone group of dealerships operates 31 new vehicle franchises at
the following 26 South Florida locations:
Belle Glade
Maroone
Chevrolet/Pontiac/Olds/Buick/Cadillac
Coconut Creek
Maroone Chrysler/Jeep
Delray Beach
Maroone Chevrolet of Delray
Maroone Dodge of Delray
Maroone Ford of Delray
Maroone Nissan of Delray
Fort Lauderdale
Maroone Chevrolet of Fort Lauderdale
Maroone Ford of Fort Lauderdale
Maroone Nissan of Fort Lauderdale
Maroone Toyota
Greenacres
Maroone Chevrolet of Greenacres
Hollywood
Maroone Honda of Hollywood
Maroone Kia of Hollywood
Lake Park
Maroone Lincoln-Mercury of North Palm
Margate
Maroone Ford of Margate
Miami
Maroone Chevrolet of Miami
Maroone Chevrolet of West Dade
Maroone Dodge of Miami
Maroone Ford of Miami
Maroone Honda of Miami
Maroone Nissan of Miami
Pembroke Pines
Maroone Chevrolet of Pembroke Pines
Maroone Dodge of Pembroke Pines
Maroone Nissan of Pembroke Pines
Maroone Oldsmobile/Isuzu
Perrine
Maroone Nissan of Kendall
About AutoNation, Inc.
AutoNation, Inc., a Fortune 100 company based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., owns and
operates 367 new vehicle franchises in 17 states. In 2000, the Company generated
more than $20 billion in revenue. For more information, visit
www.autonation.com, where shoppers can find approximately 100,000 new and used
vehicles for sale.
SOURCE AutoNation, Inc.
CONTACT: Oscar Suris of AutoNation, +1-954-769-3576, or
suriso@autonation.com
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