MEDINA, MN -- (Marketwired) -- 05/16/15 -- Indian Motorcycle® (NYSE: PII), America's first motorcycle company, in recognition of Armed Forces Day, today announced it has signed an ambassador agreement with Grammy® award winners and multi-platinum artists Zac Brown Band. The band, an avid group of motorcycle and power sports riders, will promote the Indian Motorcycle brand through various brand initiatives, most notably lending support to the company's new partnership with the United Service Organizations (USO).
Indian Motorcycle has a proud military history, lending bikes to the war efforts of World Wars I and II, and currently offering a motorcycle discount for current and retired military personnel. The company also recently announced a partnership with the USO, donating $100,000 to the organization in 2015. Zac Brown Band has a long history of supporting the U.S. military. The band members are USO tour veterans who have entertained more than 20,000 troops. In partnership with Indian Motorcycle and the USO, Zac Brown Band will meet with select troops on some stops of their 50-city North American Stadium Tour. This band is crossing the country in support of their recently released 'JEKYLL + HYDE' album, their third consecutive number one on the Billboard 200.
"There is a very natural relationship between Zac Brown Band, Indian Motorcycle, the USO and the military families we all support, so bringing the band onboard as a brand ambassador is both a pleasure and a tremendous value for our partners and our rider community," said Steve Menneto, Vice President Motorcycles, Polaris Industries. "Their music is honest and real, with a passion and spirit that resonates with everyone associated with Indian Motorcycle, and they are authentic riders and enthusiasts of the brand. We look forward to collaborating with Zac and the band as we share our mutual passion and values."
As one component of its support for Indian Motorcycle and Indian's support of the military, Zac Brown Band will donate tickets to each of its 50 shows for Indian Motorcycle to provide to military personnel and first responders. Select tour stops will feature a premium concert experience for troops selected by the USO, including a meet-and-greet experience with the band, pictures and autographs, a special video presentation, and more. Those tour stops include:
June 4, Charlotte, N.C.
June 5, Virginia Beach, Va.
July 3, Denver, Colo.
August 15, Philadelphia, Pa.
September 11, Chicago, Ill.
"We are proud to serve as brand ambassadors for Indian Motorcycle, and are happy to continue supporting the troops through our friends at the USO," said Zac Brown.
"Like the USO, Indian Motorcycle shares a history of supporting our nation's men and women in uniform," said Christy Hartsell, USO Vice President of Corporate Alliances. "It is wonderful we have the opportunity to work with USO tour veterans Zac Brown Band, and Indian Motorcycle to entertain troops and their families with a VIP experience."
ABOUT ZAC BROWN BAND
Three-time GRAMMY winners and multi-platinum artists Zac Brown Band have become one of music's most heralded acts. The band's three platinum-selling albums, Uncaged, You Get What You Give, and The Foundation, and their 2013 project The Grohl Sessions Vol. 1, have together sold over seven million copies. Topped by the three week #1 reign for "Homegrown", Zac Brown Band claims a historic series of twelve #1 hit singles across their career. "Homegrown" is the first single from their latest album JEKYLL + HYDE which is out now on Southern Ground Artists/John Varvatos Records/Big Machine Label Group/Republic Records. On the road, Zac Brown Band performed for two million fans in 2014 including a sold out, two-night stand at Fenway Park, a packed show at Wrigley Field and a Veteran's Day performance with Bruce Springsteen and Dave Grohl on the National Mall in Washington, DC. This year, Zac Brown Band return to Fenway Park and Wrigley Field among several other baseball stadiums as part of their North American tour. Zac Brown Band is managed by ROAR, a Beverly Hills-based artist and brand management company. The band is also represented by CAA, public relations firm Shore Fire Media and strategic digital marketing agency Girlilla Marketing. Additional information can be found at http://www.zacbrownband.com/.
ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE®
Indian Motorcycle, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII), is America's first motorcycle company. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America's most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.
ABOUT POLARIS®
Polaris is a recognized leader in the powersports industry with annual 2014 sales of $4.5 billion. Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets innovative, high quality off-road consumer and military vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER® and RZR® side-by-side vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles and on-road electric/hybrid powered vehicles.
Polaris is among the global sales leaders for both snowmobiles and off-road vehicles and has established a presence in the heavyweight cruiser and touring motorcycle market with the Victory® and Indian Motorcycle® and Slingshot® brands. Additionally, Polaris continues to invest in the global Work and Transportation vehicle industry with Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), Goupil Industrie SA, Aixam Mega S.A.S., and internally developed vehicles. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Polaris Engineered Parts, Accessories and Apparel, Klim branded apparel and ORV accessories under the Kolpin®, Cycle Country® and Pro Armor® brands.
Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "PII", and the Company is included in the S&P Mid-Cap 400 stock price index.
Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories are available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime at www.polaris.com.
About the USO
The USO lifts the spirits of America's troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases in the U.S. and abroad, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops, military families, wounded warriors, troops in transition and families of the fallen. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. Our programs and services are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff.
In addition to individual donors and corporate sponsors, the USO is supported by President's Circle Partners: American Airlines, AT&T, BNSF Railway, Clark Construction Group, LLC, The Coca-Cola Company, JCPenney, Jeep, Johnson & Johnson, Kroger, Northrop Grumman Corporation and TriWest Healthcare Alliance and Worldwide Strategic Partners: BAE Systems, BIC, The Boeing Company, ConAgra Foods, FedEx, GEICO, Harris Teeter, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft Corporation, Procter & Gamble, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern GmbH & Co. KG and Wawa Inc. We are also supported through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381). To join us in this important mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visit uso.org.
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