NASCAR and NASCAR Team Properties Select Fanatics to Operate At-Track Merchandise Business
New At-Track Shopping Environment to Provide Fans with Convenience and Wide Selection of High-Quality NASCAR-Branded Merchandise
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 21, 2015) – NASCAR, NASCAR Team Properties (NTP) and Fanatics jointly announced today a 10-year agreement for the sport’s at-track merchandise business that will deliver fans an enhanced, experiential shopping environment. As part of the agreement, Fanatics has acquired certain exclusive rights from NASCAR and NTP that will make the company the primary retailer of NASCAR, team and driver merchandise at all 38 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekends.
Fanatics, the market leader for officially licensed sports merchandise, powers the e-stores for hundreds of the top sports leagues, teams and schools, including a long history running NASCAR’s e-commerce business (NASCAR.com). The NASCAR at-track deal expands Fanatics’ growing in-venue partnerships.
The new trackside retail model will be phased in at NASCAR events over the course of 2015. It will evolve from using solely haulers for each specific team or driver to displaying all merchandise in a climate-controlled superstore retail environment supported by, in instances, smaller satellite retail touch points around the track. The new model will have the following enhanced benefits and added options for fans:
- Ability to offer the largest at-track selection of NASCAR merchandise ever
- Selection to include a major expansion of women’s and kids’ items
- A more functional way to browse, shop and interact with merchandise
- Separate stores within the footprint for teams, drivers, memorabilia and collectibles
- Dedicated area for driver appearances
- An interactive customization center where fans can create their own personal NASCAR gear
Fanatics Apparel, the company’s manufacturing and customization division, will also produce merchandise to complement the already extensive product line that will be offered by authorized licensees.
“A merchandise center will provide a more personal, organized, comfortable and convenient shopping environment for our fans,” said Steve Phelps, NASCAR executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “Partnering with an industry leader in Fanatics allows us to offer a comprehensive and seamless shopping experience for our fans – whether it is in-venue, online or on mobile devices.”
The new trackside retail model will utilize the latest innovations and initiatives in retail promotional design. According to a study conducted by Experian Marketing Services (Simmons National Consumer Survey, Fall Full Year 2013), NASCAR fans are at least 20 percent more likely than non-fans to notice various types of promotions while shopping, including: video monitor displays, signs on merchandise racks or shelves, and advertising on the floor – among others.
“Fanatics is extremely excited to partner with NASCAR and NASCAR Team Properties to greatly expand their at-track retail presence,” said Ross Tannenbaum, president of Fanatics Authentic. “We have taken the time to listen to what the fans, teams, drivers and NASCAR were asking for and look forward to using our market-leading scale, technology and production capabilities to deliver an improved and entertaining shopping experience for years to come.”
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States. NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR XFINITY Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series, one local grassroots series and three international series. The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit http://www.NASCAR.com and follow NASCAR at www.Facebook.com/NASCAR and Twitter: @NASCAR.
About NASCAR Team Properties
NASCAR Team Properties is a NASCAR industry-managed organization created to promote efficiency and operational structure for the sport’s licensed merchandise business. NTP is comprised of NASCAR and participating teams in NASCAR’s national race series and is operated under a Board of Directors representing those organizations. Teams currently participating in the trackside model include: Chip Ganassi Racing; Front Row Motorsports, Furniture Row Racing, Germain Racing, Hendrick Motorsports; Joe Gibbs Racing; JR Motorsports; JTG Motorsports; Michael Waltrip Racing; Penske Racing South; Richard Childress Racing; Richard Petty Motorsports; Roush Fenway Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing, Tommy Baldwin Racing, Tri Star Motorsports and Wood Brothers Racing.
About Fanatics
Fanatics is the market leader for officially licensed sports merchandise and provides the ultimate shopping experience to sports fans. A top 50 Internet Retailer Company, Fanatics comprises the broadest online assortment by offering hundreds of thousands of officially licensed items via its Fanatics (www.fanatics.com) and FansEdge (www.fansedge.com) brands, as well as the largest selection of sports collectibles and memorabilia through Fanatics Authentic (www.fanaticsauthentic.com). In addition, Fanatics powers the e-commerce business for all major professional sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, PGA, UFC), major media brands (NBC Sports, CBS Sports, FOX Sports) and over 150 collegiate and professional team properties. Fanatics also has many in-venue partnerships, including NASCAR, Texas Longhorns, LSU Tigers, Phoenix Coyotes and New Jersey Devils.
Sources: NASCAR PR