Cashing In: Woodward Dream Cruise gets new name
High unemployment and plunging revenue for businesses has been toughest on the state of Michigan. Even the wildly popular Woodward Dream Cruise has been hit by the region's economic despair. Several sponsors have reportedly dropped out, and some participating cities have scaled back their participation in light of budget shortfalls.
In an effort to raise more money for the Dream Cruise, the classic car extravaganza will take on a new name for 2009. The cruise will now be called the Woodward Dream Cruise presented by the MotorCity Casino Hotel. The casino, which is owned by the Detroit-based Ilitch family (Little Caesers/Detroit Tigers/Red Wings owners) is increasing its sponsorship profile in order to attach its name to the event. With over one million people from all over the world attending the event, the sponsorship will also give the casino some big-time exposure. The Detroit News is reporting that Dream Cruise officials are still looking to obtain two more sponsors in advance of the event's August 15 date. Good luck with that, fellas.
[Source: The Detroit News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dude 9:22AM (6/19/2009)
Way to stay classy Detroit. Why not add a liquor company too and really make it low class.
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ack154 9:33AM (6/19/2009)
Would you rather have them sponsored by Sir Arthur's Fine Cigars and Pipes?
I think it is much nicer for the event to be able to stay around with the support of a "less than high society" sponsor than to see the event go away all together.
mapoftazifosho 9:54AM (6/19/2009)
It's Ilitch so Detroit-ers will be ok with this.
Noidor 1:37PM (6/19/2009)
Not having burnouts is the problem! lol
In my view, Ilitch family's motives could be questioned when it comes to management tactics in ownership of parking lots, or old tiger stadium saga, but considering all other good things they have done for Detroit, they have definitely contributed quite a lot. Sponsorship of WDC is one of them. Organizing the event is not cheap at all.
Having said that, WDC for last several years has been utter crap. All there is to see anymore are a bunch of 70s Camaros, Mustangs, Challengers parked alongside Woodward and that's it. What's the point? There is nothing new to see! I wish we had something like the Pebble Beach gathering where there are classic cars from 20-40s ranging from something simple to a mega-luxury Bugatti, Packards, etc.
But look I realize WDC is in the spirit of celebrating 50s, 60s, 70s. Unfortunately I think we've extracted all the appeal it initially presented, like I said above, Camaros, Mustangs, Challengers (as much as I like them), don't do those 30 decades justice.
Lastly, cops get on anyone's ass for doing a burnout! That used used to draw a huge crowd closer to the evening time, but now there is too much police who frankly just KILL any kind of mischievous excitement. I know it's a potential for lawsuits, I know middle-aged white women are screaming, "not in my back-yard!" but that's part of the problem.
Avinash machado 9:55AM (6/19/2009)
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
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Todd 11:03AM (6/19/2009)
Who cares?
Yeah, it's sad to see something else get a corporate sponsor, but as long as they don't try to change the name to "Motor City Dream Cruise" then I don't have a problem.
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wildcat0695 11:09AM (6/19/2009)
That's a mouth full of yuck. I wish it did not have to happen for the event to survive.
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Dtown 12:02PM (6/19/2009)
I liked the Dream Cruise better years ago when people were wetting down the pavement so you could do burn outs on the street and no sponsors. Hey how about this....everyone knows what day the cruise is on so show up drive your car around and then head home. Why do you need a sponsor to idle your car down a public street?
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DayShifter 2:18PM (6/19/2009)
I've always asked that same question.... Other than some extra cops for traffic enforcement, how has this event, which is nothing more then a bunch of people criusing the strip.... get to be so expensive..
ZingKingX 12:13PM (6/19/2009)
Hey I got my CD player at that Car Tunes. Right off 11 Mile. They owe you for the primo ad you just made.
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Steve 1:46PM (6/19/2009)
The Dream Cruise sucks so bad now, TOO many cars, and way too many rules.
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