AT&T Wireless Turned down?

[17_Fan]

UPDATES Bang Racing? hearing NASCAR turned down
an AT&T team sponsorship in the past few days due to the new deal with
Nextel. Wonder if it was for the #99 team since they used to sponsor the #17
team as an associate?
AND from USA Today: Though Nextel will not be granted the same exclusivity
[as Winston/RJR] -- existing team sponsors such as Alltel and Cingular will
be ''grandfathered'' into the series, even though they are Nextel's
competition -- Roush Racing officials are not sure what that means to their
sponsorship deal with AT&T Wireless. In anticipation of losing CITGO, an oil
company, as the sponsor of Jeff Burton's #99 Ford, Roush executives have
been working the last few months to line up AT&T, one of the team's
associate sponsors, to become Burton's primary sponsor next season. Team
President Geoff Smith says NASCAR officials have not made it clear to him
whether they'll allow the sponsorship. ''We have something in place there,''
Smith says. ''Whether or not it survives scrutiny, I don't know.'' The team
might have to find another sponsor for Burton's car, but Smith isn't giving
up hope for AT&T: ''It may still be a very real opportunity, depending on
what the announcement is as to what the rules are.''(6-19-2003)
UPDATE - Bang Racing? hearing that a new Winston Cup team - Bang Racing was
in line to receive the AT&T Wireless sponsorship - not Roush Racing. Bang
Racing is a new team founded by Alex Meshkin, a young technology executive
from Reston, VA. Ironically - the same city where Nextel is headquartered.
Meshkin founded a software company that he sold when he was just 19 years
old – he is now 23. Also hearing that Bang Racing is not just another race
team - but a technology-based team that enables corporations to make NASCAR
sponsorships interactive and measurable using a patented wireless
technology. Apparently, this technology will allow fans to interact with
teams and sponsors using any wireless phone - not just Nextel phones. Have
heard that Bang Racing has been in talks with Nextel about a car sponsorship
deal - but Nextel decided to become the title sponsor instead. Nextel and
Bang Racing are still talking about a technology deal that would allow
Nextel to exclusively offer this technology to their subscribers. Also,
hearing that Larry McReynolds may be one of the owners along with Alex
Meshkin and other technology executives from Reston, VA.
AND the #49 BAM Racing team is sponsored for seven Cup races in 2003 by AT&T
with 1-800-CALLATT and Carrott Top, noword on if this sponsorship will
continue in 2004 or be effected.

 

[PettyBenson]

HUM?? Just got more interesting!
BAM announced that 1-800-CALL-ATT will be on the car again this week and might be on the car mor ein the future. Beth Ann also said somethign like they hope ATT will be with them for a long time to come, Could this be AT&T's way to get into cup since the deal was turned down with Rousch and/or Bang racing? SInce they are already a sponsor with the 49 team this seaon it should be grandfathered in!

 

[Whizzer]

This is different. 1-800-CALLATT is NOT a wireless service but a collect call system using hard wire(?).
The way I read it, only wireless or cell phone service companies will be affected by the NEXTEL sponsorship.

 

[toddgee24]

just read at jayski at&t were talking to dei for the #1 sponsor, apparently they really wanna sponsor a competitive car, first roush, this this bang thing then dei

 

[de7xwcc]

If it is ture then nextel should foot the bill for any team that loses out on a sponser.