Bridgestone Brand Offers Glimpse Of Super Bowl PlaybookHalftime show and commercials will feature the Bridgestone tires
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 24, 2008) – What do Alice Cooper, Richard Simmons and an albino snake have in common? (Hint: They’re not in the latest reality show brought on by the writer’s strike in Hollywood.) They will appear together in a humorous new Bridgestone tire commercial from Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) that will debut during the FOX telecast of Super Bowl XLII on Feb. 3 from Glendale, Ariz.
For the first time ever, BFNT is advertising during the Super Bowl. The company will debut two 30-second commercials during Super Bowl XLII, one between the first and second quarters and one during the third quarter. The creative team needed 6,000 crew hours, 28 animals and two iconic celebrities to create humorous, compelling commercials that showcase the performance of Bridgestone tires and reinforce its key message that; “for drivers who want to get the most out of their cars… it’s Bridgestone or nothing.” The descriptions below offer a sneak peek at what viewers can expect to see from the Bridgestone commercials on Super Bowl Sunday.
“Scream”
More than 20 woodland friends exercise their lungs and count their blessings that a car passing through their home is riding on the world-class technology of Bridgestone tires.
“Unexpected Obstacles"
What happens when a fitness icon, a rock legend and his slithery companion confront a speeding car equipped with the precision technology of Bridgestone-brand tires? You’ll have to watch Super Bowl XLII to find out.
“The Super Bowl is America’s favorite sporting event with a huge television audience, so it is an incredible opportunity to raise awareness for the Bridgestone brand,” said Phil Pacsi, Vice President, North American Consumer Tire Marketing, BFNT. “These commercials use humor and surprise in a very effective way to both entertain and to showcase the performance of Bridgestone tires.”
The commercials, produced by Dallas, Texas-based The Richards Group, are just one piece of the extensive partnership between the Bridgestone brand and the NFL. The partnership also includes:
- the first “Official Tire of the NFL” designation;
- “Official Tire Sponsor” of Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLIII designation;
- title sponsorship of the Super Bowl XLII and XLIII “Bridgestone Super Bowl Halftime Show,” this year starring Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers;
- strong presence at the NFL Experience, the interactive theme park in Arizona during Super Bowl week;
- designation as “Official Tire Sponsor of the Pro Bowl,” which is played the week after the Super Bowl in Hawaii; and
- Title sponsorship of the first-ever regular season NFL game played outside
North America, the Bridgestone International Series, which took place in
October at London’s Wembley Stadium featuring the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins.
Super Bowl XLII, to be held Feb. 3, 2008, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., will be televised by FOX. Watched by 140 million viewers in the U.S. last year, the Super Bowl is annually the nation’s highest-rated TV program and the most-watched single-day sporting event. Tampa, Fla., will host Super Bowl XLIII and that game’s “Bridgestone Super Bowl Halftime Show” in 2009.
In addition to its national partnership with the NFL, BFNT has a long tradition of high-profile sports sponsorships. For example, Bridgestone is the Official Tire of the PGA TOUR; the brand sponsors the World Golf Championships–Bridgestone Invitational played at the Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio; and Bridgestone is now the official tire of the GOLF CHANNEL. In motorports, Bridgestone is the official tire of the Champ Car World Series and Formula One. Firestone is the Official Tire of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race®, the IndyCar Series and IndyPro Series. BFNT also has local and regional sponsorships with properties such as the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators.
For logos, digital photos and teaser clips of the commercials please visit: www.bridgestoneamericasmedia.com
About Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in North America.