Dodge Pulls Out Of Lingerie Bowl - Cites Media Attention - Gee And Here I Thought That Media Attention Was A Good Thing

Follow The Follow This Sad Sorid Saga Here On TACH

"Dodge Grabs Sponsorship: November 24, 2003
"Chrysler Downplays Sponsorship" (With Pictures) December 9, 2003
"Chrysler Creates Air Cover For Sponsorship"(With Pictures) December 16, 2003
"Producer Pissed About Cancellation Of Sponsorship" December 17, 2003

Snide's Remarks: Does this mean that Chrysler would not want to sponsor The Spike Special "The Illustrated Philosphy Of Andrew Dice Clay"? or Title Sponsorship of any Swimsuit Edition?

Auburn Hills and Hollywood December 17, 2003; Kara Wetzel writing for Dow Jones reported that DaimlerChrysler as expected, pulled out of its Dodge brand sponsorship of the Lingerie Bowl amid heightened media attention and dealer upset.

The event, featuring models (ed. note: sexy knockouts see above) in underwear(ed. note Dodge negotiated that their logo would appear on each players bra) playing tackle football, became a distraction that diverted too much attention away from the company's products, George E. Murphy, DaimlerChryler's senior vice president of global marketing, said in a statement.

The decision came following a recommendation from Dodge's dealer council earlier this week that the company drop sponsorship of the pay-per-view program, which many critics had seen as sexist.

A Chrysler spokesman said he "wouldn't necessarily" call the Lingerie Bowl cancellation the result of dealer pressure, instead citing the media attention.

"We're moving into 2004 with primary goal of launching nine new products," he said. "We did not want to spend all of January with the media focused on this issue."

Dodge agreed to sponsor the game in November, calling it a "unique alternative to Super Bowl halftime programming." Since that time, the sponsorship garnered criticism from employees and customers over the game to be played among seven models clad in bras and panties.

Horizon Productions Inc., Hollywood, Calif., still plans to hold the Lingerie Bowl Feb. 1, the company said in a statement Wednesday.

Mitchell Mortaza, the bowl's creator and executive producer, said the company was disappointed in Dodge's move and noted the details and marketing plan for the game haven't changed since its inception.

As of Wednesday evening, the Lingerie Bowl Web site still prominently featured Dodge as a sponsor.