FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Audra Fleming/Susan Reid
Elite Racing, Inc.
(858) 450-6510
Scott Williamson
Coca-Cola North America
(858) 450-6510
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL MARATHON® AND COCA-COLA ZERO™ ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP
Coca-Cola Zero, with Real Coca-Cola Taste and Zero Calories,
to Headline Fifth Largest – And Most Rockin’ – Marathon In America
SAN DIEGO, Calif., (April 21, 2005) – Coca-Cola North America and Elite
Racing today announced that Coca-Cola Zero will be title sponsor of the 8th
annual Rock 'n' Roll Marathon to be held Sunday, June 5, 2005, in San
Diego.
"Hosting The 2005 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon is a perfect way to introduce
Coca-Cola Zero to Southern California," said Christine Holland, director of
marketing, Coca-Cola Zero. "Now everyone can enjoy a great race, great
bands, sunny San Diego, AND be among th e first to enjoy Coca-Cola Zero."
A full array of Coca-Cola beverages will be available for spectators.
POWERADE sports drinks will be offered along the route for participants,
and Dasani water at the finish line. Spectators who turn out to enjoy the
Coca-Cola Zero Rock 'n' Roll Marathon will have the opportunity to be among
the first people in America to taste Coca-Cola Zero, which hits store
shelves later in June.
"Any event has to be honored to be associated with the No. 1 trademark in
the world," said Tim Murphy, CEO Elite Racing, Inc., producers of the
event. "San Diego and the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon are an ideal fit for
Coca-Cola’s brands and all that they represent in the sports and
entertainment industries."
Over 20,000 runners will experience San Diego's biggest block party as they
run along a new scenic course lined with more than 40 live bands, 2000
spirited high school cheerleaders, 5,000 volunteers and tens of thousands
of encouraging spectators. The event is capped off with a premiere
headliner concert at the Coors Amphitheatre.
The marathon begins in nationally acclaimed Balboa Park, runs through
Hillcrest and skirts the world famous San Diego Zoo. Runners take an
expanded tour of downtown featuring the newly built Petco Park, home of
baseball's San Diego Padres, the celebrated Gaslamp District and beautiful
San Diego Harbor. The course continues with a loop around Mission Bay, a
San Diego landmark, and finishes at the historic Marine Corp Recruit Depot,
in Point Loma.
The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with
Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company
markets four of the world's top five soft drink brands, including Diet
Coke, Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet
and light soft drinks, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees and
sports drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system,
consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a
rate exceeding 1 billion servings each day. For more information about The
Coca-Cola Company, please visit our website at www.coca-cola.com.
Elite Racing, Inc., a sports marketing and management company based in San
Diego, Calif., is the leader in producing world-class running events. Elite
Racing produces eight events each year, including the Coca-Cola Zero Rock
'n' Roll Marathon, P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona, the Rock ‘n’ Roll
Half Marathon, the Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon and the Carlsbad
5000, the world's fastest 5K. Its production company, Elite Racing
Television Inc., also produces national broadcasts of its events on FSN
(Fox Sports Next).
For more information or to register for the Coca-Cola Zero Rock ‘n’ Roll
Marathon, visit www.rnrmarathon.com or
call 858/450-6510.
# # #
|
