GMAC Bowl To Feature Saturn VUE As Its 'Game' Vehicle
FOR RELEASE: September 26, 2001GMAC Bowl To Feature Saturn VUE As Its 'Game' Vehicle
MOBILE, Ala. -The GMAC Bowl, which helps jumpstart the NCAA-certified 2001-02 college bowl season here on Dec. 19, has signed on the new Saturn VUE, set for production later this fall, as the featured vehicle of the bowl and accompanying pre-bowl promotions.
"As the recognition of this bowl grows - this is the third game coming up - we are discovering resources that can generate excitement and also make good business sense. Linking with the Saturn VUE as we promote the GMAC Bowl on college campuses this fall is a great fit for us," said James Farmer, vice president of GMAC Merchandising, Advertising and Communications, in making the announcement today.
The GMAC Bowl will pit teams from the Mid-American (MAC) Conference and Conference USA. The 2000 bowl game drew the highest ESPN2 viewership of that collegiate bowl season.
The VUE is the first sport utility from Saturn Corporation, the General Motors subsidiary known for its loyal owners and high sales satisfaction ratings. "Saturn has always embraced relationship marketing," said Jill Lajdziak, vice president, Saturn Sales, Service and Marketing. "The GMAC Bowl and its attending activities are consistent with many other VUE marketing activities currently underway. We believe the GMAC Bowl is a terrific opportunity for us."
Marketing events for the GMAC Bowl and the Saturn VUE include:
- Travelling promotions through Nov. 16 on 13 MAC and five Conference USA campuses. Activities include Saturn VUE exhibits and on-the-field halftime contests at selected schools.
- Mid-American Conference Championship game on Nov. 30 where MAC winners from the campus promotions will square off to win a trip to the GMAC Bowl and a chance to win a Saturn VUE.
- GMAC Bowl game on Dec. 19 where a MAC contestant-winner and a Conference USA contestant-winner will vie to win the Saturn VUE. The VUE is Saturn's all-new entry into the compact sport utility segment. Produced on a split manufacturing line with Saturn's S-Series vehicles in Spring Hill, Tenn., the VUE will offer consumers a variety of unique features, including polymer panels, three powertrain options, electronic power steering and high levels of interior flexibility.
GMAC's sponsorship of the GMAC Bowl is a collaborative effort on the part of its automotive, insurance, mortgage and real estate areas and seeks to promote the growth of the GMAC brand name offering a wide variety of financial services. GMAC, a subsidiary of General Motors since 1919, earned $1.6 billion in 2000.
Saturn Corporation entered the automotive market in 1990, bringing a new level of customer service to automotive retailing. It was created through a unique partnership between General Motors and the UAW. Saturn and its retailers, represented by 440 facilities, share a strong focus on customer service.
Saturn retailers currently rank number one in the J.D. Power & Associates customer sales satisfaction survey.
Upcoming Schedule of Events*
- Sept. 29 - Central Michigan at Buffalo (MAC)
- Oct. 5-6 - Marshall at Northern Illinois (MAC)
- Oct. 13 - Northern Illinois at Kent State (MAC)
- Oct. 20 - Cincinnati at Houston (CUSA)
- Oct. 19-20 - Miami at Ohio (MAC)
- Oct. 20 - Bowling Green at Akron (MAC)
- Oct. 26-27 - Akron at Marshall (MAC)
- Oct. 30 - East Carolina at Texas Christian (CUSA)
- Nov. 2-3 - Miami at Bowling Green (MAC)
- Nov. 3 - Central Michigan at Ball State (MAC)
- Nov. 9-10 - Marshall at Miami (MAC)
- Nov. 10 - Eastern Michigan at Central Michigan (MAC)
- Nov. 10 - Texas Christian at Alabama-Birmingham (CUSA)
- Nov. 16-17 - Central Michigan at Western Michigan (MAC)
- Nov. 16-17 - Eastern Michigan at Toledo (MAC)
- Nov. 30 - MAC Conference Championship
- Dec. 19 - GMAC Bowl
- Promotions on the Louisville, Eastern Michigan and East Carolina campuses have already taken place.
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