Partner with us to bring the region’s most successful July 4th celebration to well over 150,000 people.
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“People from all over our community and region come together once a year to enjoy the Fourth of July celebration. This tradition is a time to celebrate our nation’s independence, be with family, and experience great music and fireworks along our beautiful waterfront.” – Mayor Jerry Abramson
Sponsorship Facts
Louisville Waterfront Development Corporation (WDC) invites you to partner with us in the development of the region’s most successful July 4th celebration. This two-day festival is the largest event of the summer taking place at the award winning Louisville Waterfront Park. Quality national entertainment attracts well over 150,000 people and extensive media coverage. Thanks to the generosity of our corporate sponsors, admission is free and open to everyone.
Region’s Largest July 4th Celebration
With two days of family fun and recreation, more than 150,000 people are expected to attend the festival on July 3 & 4. Live music and entertainment will be featured including nationally renowned artists. The celebration will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display on both evenings.
Extensive Promotional Campaign
Partners will benefit from a marketing campaign comprising television and radio, print, electronic and outdoor media. Partners also have an opportunity to benefit from point of purchase advertising in regional retail outlets. The festival also receives enormous amounts of publicity from all local media outlets.
Wide Demographic Exposure
The Festival appeals to people of all ages and from every part of the community & region. Great food, the region’s highest quality entertainment, family activities and fireworks attract visitors from near and far. Market research during the 2005 festival indicated that the representation of visitors to the event was nearly identical to the population at large.
Private Hospitality Area
Sponsors have exclusive access to a private viewing area on the Great Lawn designed to host our corporate partners and their guests in a casual and fun atmosphere.
Partnership Benefits
- High visibility and community awareness for your brand, company and employees
- Involvement with region’s largest July 4th event
- Association with Louisville’s internationally recognized and award-winning Waterfront Park and 1.5 million visitors annually
- Exposure to a diverse audience which will come to Waterfront Park on July 3 and 4th for great music, good food, and recreation for family and friends
- Excellent publicity and media coverage. 2005 festival publicity included $175,000 in commercial media as well as unprecedented news coverage prior to and following the event. 2006 partners will benefit from a comparable marketing campaign.
Opportunities for Partnership
Four levels of partnership are offered including Star, Freedom, Liberty, and Eagle. Each level offers distinct benefits and rewards for participation. Choose from among the opportunities listed, or we can create a strategy to involve
your organization.
-
Star Partner(s) — $50,000+ donation
- Significant naming opportunity for an area within the festival
- Merchandising opportunity for the named area
- Partner name to be included in all festival promotion
- Partner name and/or logo on:
- Outdoor promotional banner on WDC office building
- Main stage
- Festival Entrances
- Opportunity to air audio commercials over festival PA system
- Emcee introduction / outroduction of one main stage performing artist
- On-site marketing:
- Exhibit Area 20×30 (smaller sub-sections available)
- Opportunity to distribute products/coupons
- Private Hospitality Area:
- Sixty (60) tickets and six (6) parking passes
- Opportunity to host a separate private hospitality area inside the event
- Category Exclusivity
-
Freedom Partner(s) — $25,000 – $49,999 donation
- Designated as an official sponsor and partner of the Festival
- Partner name and/or logo on:
- Print advertisements
- Outdoor promotional banner on WDC office building
- Main Stage
- Merchandising
- Website
- Press releases
- Festival Entrances
- Opportunity to air audio commercials over festival PA system
- On-site marketing:
- Exhibit Area 20×20 (smaller sub-sections available)
- Opportunity to distribute products/coupons
- Private Hospitality Area:
- Thirty (30) tickets and four (4) parking passes
- Opportunity to host a separate private hospitality area inside the event
- Partner banner placement during event (4 provided by Sponsor)
- Category Exclusivity
-
Liberty Partner(s) — $10,000 – $24,999
- Designated as an official sponsor and partner of the Festival
- Partner name to appear on all advance marketing and PR materials
produced by WDC - Partner name and/or logo on:
- Festival Entrances
- Partner banner placement during event (2 provided by Sponsor)
- On-site marketing:
- Exhibit Area 10×20
- Opportunity to distribute products/coupons
- Private Hospitality Area:
- Sixteen (16) tickets and two (2) parking passes
- Partner banner placement during event (3 provided by Sponsor)
- Category Exclusivity
-
Eagle Partner(s) $5,000- $9,999
- Designated as an official sponsor and partner of the Festival
- Partner name and /or logo on festival poster, website, event entrances,
and press releases - On-site marketing:
- Exhibit Area 10×10
- Opportunity to distribute products/coupons
- Private Hospitality Area:
- Eight (8) tickets and one (1) parking pass
- Partner banner placement during event (2 provided by Sponsor)
- Category Exclusivity
“If there was ever a question of whether Louisville could support two days of celebrating the Fourth of July, it got tens of thousands of answers yesterday as fans of fireworks and music flocked to the riverfront.” – The Courier-Journal, July 5, 2005
Partnership Information
Payment of Partnership fees:
All partnership levels and fees listed are for 2006. The partnership fee is payable upon contract acceptance by both parties. In-kind services or products given in lieu of a cash payment shall be negotiated separately. Partnership fees are paid directly to the Waterfront Development Corporation.
In-kind Contributions
The Waterfront Development Corporation will recognize those services or products that are provided in lieu of cash and are designated as in-kind contributions. Partners will be asked to provide an objective assessment of the market value of the contribution. Those services or products, which provide direct budgetary relief, will be recognized at the full market value provided by the partner.
Licensing and Merchandising Rights
All intellectual property, logos, trademarks, trade names, and graphic treatments shall remain under the ownership of the Waterfront Development Corporation and all negotiated use thereof shall be produced exclusively by WDC’s official merchandising vendor.
Promotional and Marketing Rights
The Waterfront Development Corporation holds exclusive ownership of the festival along with the name, graphics treatments, etc. Organizations and corporations who are participating in the Festival are required in their marketing to reference the Festival as the Fifth Third Bank Waterfront Independence Festival and to utilize the official graphics and logo of the Festival.
Waterfront Development Corporation Board of Directors
Mayor Jerry E. Abramson
Ms. Ina Brown Bond, Treasurer
Mr. Scott W. Brinkman
Ms. Kathy J. Cooksie
Mr. James R. Cox, Secretary
Mr. Fred Goldberg
Mr. Riggs Lewis
Ms. Susan E. Moss
Mr. Jerrold P. Perchik
Mr. Lee Robinson
Ms. Cathy Shannon
Mr. Stephen M. Silliman
Ms. Anne Spaes
Councilman David Tandy
Mr. Matthew A. Thornton, Chairman
For More Information on Partnerships for the Fifth Third Bank Waterfront Independence Festival Contact:
Ashley Cox
Marketing & Event Manager
Waterfront Development Corporation
502-574-3768
“This event is a small way that the Waterfront Development Corporation can give back to the community that has given so generously to the Waterfront Park” – Matt Thornton, Chairman
