Aug. 6, 2007
SAN DIEGO - As part of its dedication to serving the military and their families, GEICO has signed a two-year agreement as the title sponsor of the Fleet Week Football Classic. Now celebrating its third year as an official Fleet Week event, this year's game is set for Saturday, Oct. 27, as San Diego State takes on Brigham Young in a Mountain West Conference showdown, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Qualcomm Stadium. Fleet Week San Diego is the nation's largest tribute to the military's enlisted men and women who dedicate their lives to defend the American way of life.
"We appreciate GEICO's commitment to support this special event that pays tribute to our military," said Steve Becvar, general manager of Aztec Sports Properties, which secured the GEICO relationship and administers multimedia rights for San Diego State Athletics. "At SDSU, we're proud to work closely with Fleet Week San Diego to dedicate a home football game every year in October to recognize and honor the men and women of the United States military, both past and present, for their service to the nation. GEICO sees the vision for this event and we're proud to have them as a partner."
Among the events and promotions taking place at this year's game include pregame ceremonies, flyovers and parachutists, halftime performances from the Marine, Navy and SDSU bands, and a tribute to the wounded military at Balboa Hospital and Camp Pendleton. There will also be 200 free game tickets provided for military personnel and their families in a special "Heroes Section."
"GEICO is a strong supporter of American military troops during peacetime as well as wartime," said Howard Collins, military liaison/manager for GEICO's regional office in Poway, Calif. "This event is a great way for GEICO and the public to show their appreciation for the military. We are proud to be given the opportunity to get involved."
Tickets may be purchased by logging on to www.goaztecs.com, by calling 619-283-SDSU or by visiting the Aztec Ticket Office Window E at Qualcomm Stadium. Military personnel, retirees, and family members can obtain tickets from Navy MWR and Marine Corps MCCS ticket outlets.
About the Fleet Week FoundationIn addition to honoring the sea services through the annual Fleet Week events, the Foundation's goals are to foster awareness of the contributions made by enlisted military personnel and their families, to enhance relationships between the civilian, business and military communities, to provide events that active duty military and their families can attend at little or no cost, and to raise funds for charitable efforts benefiting enlisted service members and their families. Benefiting organizations include the USO, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and the Armed Services YMCA. More information is available at www.fleetweeksandiego.org.
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the fourth-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States. It provides auto insurance coverage for more than 7 million policyholders and insures more than 12 million vehicles. As a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies, GEICO is rated A++ for financial stability by A.M. Best Company and was tops in customer satisfaction among property and casualty insurers, according to the 2006 American Customer Satisfaction Index survey.
GEICO takes special interest in its military policyholders and provides them with highly competitive and customized products which offer a full program of auto insurance products and services. Members of GEICO's "MAT" (Military Assistance Team) - all recruited from U.S. military services - are on the job to develop the discount programs and service options that can best serve U.S. troops at home and overseas.
In order to provide the exceptional customer service that separates itself from the rest of its competitors, GEICO operates offices worldwide to assist military and government employees serving abroad. For more information, go to www.geico.com.
Aztec Sports Properties is a Learfield Sports property which will partner with SDSU Athletics through 2016. Learfield Sports manages the multimedia rights for nearly 35 collegiate institutions and secures marketing partnerships for Black Coaches & Administrators (BCA). The Dallas-based company also provides exclusive sports programming to more than 1,000 radio stations throughout the country. Team Services, LLC, a Learfield Sports company, specializes in venue naming rights, marketing research and sales consultation. Learfield Sports is an operating unit of Learfield Communications, Inc., based in Jefferson City, Mo., which made its initial foray into the world of sports marketing in 1975 as the radio rights holder for the University of Missouri, a client still today. For more information and a complete property listing, visit www.learfieldsports.com.