CHARLOTTE, NC – Continental Tire has acquired the exclusive sponsorship rights to the all-sports rival series between Duke University and the University of North Carolina.

Known for the last 10 years as the Carlyle Cup, the rival series will now be called Battle of the Blues presented by Continental Tire, which will award the light and royal blue Continental Tire Cup to the winning school at the end of each academic year. The new sponsorship brings a global presence to what is considered the top collegiate sports rivalry in the United States. Continental Tire the Americas is headquartered outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, is not new to high-profile sports sponsorships and collegiate sponsorships.

Continental Tire was a major sponsor of the FIFA World Cup last summer in South Africa and is currently a sponsors of Major League Soccer (MLS), Grand-Am Racking and the Triple Crown preview shows on ESPN, as we as a supporter of UNCV athletic programs.

Duke-Carolina consistently tanks among the top rivalries in all of sports and perennially the No. 1 rivalry in men’s college basketball. The annual Duke-UNC basketball games receive the highest TV ratings of the regular season, and the March, 2008, match-up remains the highest-rated game in the history of ESPN.

“Continental Tire has strategically and vigorously increased market presence over the last few years in the U.S., and alignment with national brands such as Duke and North Carolina supports our overall marketing approach to brand building,” Travis Roffler, Continental Tire’s Director of Marketing, said. “We already enjoy a long-standing relationship with UNC, and taking over the rival series with Duke broadens our collegiate reach nationally.”

“We are absolutely thrilled to have Continental Tire as a new sponsor of the rival series,” Mark Tuttle, General Manager of IMG College/Duke Sports said. “You will see Continental Tire featured prominently on our national basketball broadcasts, and their decision to build off the 10-year equity of the rival series is very smart.”

Gary Sobba, General Manager Learfield/Tar Heel Sports Properties, sees Continental Tire’s move as a natural extension of the relationship it already has with North Carolina. “Conti has been a terrific partner of the Tar Heels over thee years, and sponsoring the rival series raises its profile all the more,” Sobba said. “Everyone around the state the country and the world has heard of the UNC-Duke games.”

Battle of the blues presented by Continental Tire is an all-sports competition between 23 common varsity sports at both schools. Point values are attached to the season series or higher finish in the ACC Championship in that sport. A total of 26 points is at stake, with the winner retaining the sterling silver and enamel cup that is painted light blue on one side and royal blue n the other. The winning school gets to display the cup with its colors showing for the next academic year.

Continental Tire will have extensive multi-media exposure at both schools, plus signage at the stadiums, arenas and Olympic sports sites. Whenever the Duke and Carolina team meet in any varsity spots, Continental Tire will be the presenting sponsor of that event, with ramped-up signage, Pas, promotions and media.

UNC has won the rival series six times in the last 10 years. Duke has won it three times. And one year, the competition ended in a 13-13 tie. 

About Continental Tire

Continental Tire is a division of the Continental Corporation, and offers a complete premium line of ultra-high performance, passenger and light truck tires that instill confidence and a passion for driving. Continental Tires are fitted as original equipment on many of the world’s finest automobiles. Learn more about Continental Tire by visiting us at www.continentaltire.com. 

With sales of approximately $20 billion in 2009, Continental is among the leading automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for power trains and chassis instrumentation infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastometers, Continental contributes to enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also a competent partner I networked automobile communication. Continental currently employs approximately 143,000 in 46 countries. 

Media Contacts

Media Contacts PLT:
Continental Tire
Dana Zamalloa	Abbey Linville
Manager, PR and Communications	Communications Coordinator
Continental Tire the Americas, Inc.	Crowl, Montgomery & Clark
1830 MacMillan Park Drive	123 Wilbur Drive, NE
Fort Mill, SC 29716	North Canton, OH  44720
Phone: 704-583-8165	Phone: 330-494-6999, ext. 207
E-mail: dana.zamalloa@conti-na.com	Fax: 330-494-6242
UNC
Garry Sobba, General Manager
Tar Heel Sports Properties
6350 Quadrangle Drive
Chapel Hill, NC  27517
(919) 410-8100, ext. 104
gsobba@tarheelsports.com
DUKE
Lane Cody, Account Executive
IMG College/Duke Sports
728 Broad Street
Durham. NC  27702
(919) 491-8609
lcody@ispsports.com