urbanknight

You know he's a guy, right? If so and that's how you roll, that's cool. Just wanted to make sure you knew.

Nachoman

Well then nevermind!

aoto

You may just want to be a partial sponsor, if all you are looking for its advertisement on the team kits, and do not want to "fully sponsor" a team. I know our team has a bunch of smaller sponsors that donate like $2000 but they have to only have a piece of advertisement on our team kits.

DScott

I'm guessing it might cost a little more than $5000 to sponsor a single race, only some of which can be recouped in entry fees.

We'd love to follow the story, though, so keep us updated if you can.

VA_Esquire

eep. just talked to the shop owner about how much he puts into our team......he said "Well, lets just say I could bought myself another Mercedes this year without monthly payments, but instead I felt like sponsoring the team"

Sponsor Ready

Tiered payment system now with a 1,000 dollar bonus after 270 days... I will post the contract soon.

OK'd from our end waiting on team's response.

umd

bonus for what? catting up to 4?

gfactor

Hey I'll do some cat 5 races in DC!

Psimet2001 

Yup - As much as I put into the team out of my own pocket someone always wants more. It's kind of crazy really.

Such is the life of a "real" title sponsor.

zstjohn

I'll ride with your name on my jersey. send me five grand!

baribari

$5000 to a handful of Cat5's isn't professional racing. It's not even top-level amateur racing. It's more like a mix of charity and an publicity stunt.

Top-level amateurs get free gear, travel the country to compete on the sponsor's dollars, and take home bikes worth more than your whole budget.

MitchL

interesting story. i'm def interested to see the contract you came up with and find out how this turns our for you and the team. keep us posted.

have we confirmed that it is a Cat 5 team?

Homebrew01

Maybe it doesn't matter to a sponsor what level the racers are at, as long as they get exposure. In fact, maybe Cat 4-5 is better for local exposure if you're sponsoring local guys that talk up your product off the bike in the community. Sponsoring cat 1-2 racers that travel outside your market doesn't do you any good.

Psimet2001 

More to this point - cat 4/5 racers usually have their families attend races, actually buy stuff or spend money on the sport and with sponsors. Cat 3 and higher seem to start expecting things for free, the races are longer and they have probably burned more family time training - therefore the families just don't come out to watch anymore.

Homebrew01

And to the OP, basically: Cat 5 = beginner (1st year racing), up through Cat 1 = National level amateur, and then up to Pro = professional (as in, racing is their job)

cappuccino911

Easy there big guy, the ends justify the means. In the example of my baseball team in South Boston, we were far from MLB but we sure as hell brought money in for the sponsor so the end result was achieved and they continued to sponsor us.

Sponsor Ready

Yea, but we are not looking to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars. We found a team that performed well in their first year (last year), are growing, and hungry for a sponsor. We would like publicity and activity in the streets of our new community while also promoting a healthy and environmentally friendly lifestyle. In conjunction with our sponsorship we are also rolling out a bike share program and several advocacy events the team is expected to help out with.

Honestly, I think we may get more out of sponsoring a less than professional team in this case. I'd rather work with people who ride to ride, not just for money anyway!

Sponsor Ready

We are finalizing the agreement this week. I will post everything and disclose what I can asap!

baribari

If it brings in more money than it costs the sponsor, than it's worth it. But it's hardly professional racing.

If I was going to spend money on cycling, it would probably start with Cat IIs.

PhotoJoe 

I'm guessing he's the Tarzan that poses with tourists for pix and cash "donations" down at the Kodak!

The "You Could Be Home Now" condos! I know them well...because when I see them.....I know I'm not home yet!