Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance Brings Spot Back to Mackey Arena Dec. 4

 

West Lafayette, IN (Nov. 29, 2010) – After a 20-plus-year absence, Purdue Athletics and Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance announced today that the iconic “Tuba Man” ad returns to Purdue hoops and Mackey Arena when the Boilermakers take on the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, Dec. 4.

 

Purdue Athletics’ partner Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance knew the legacy and popularity behind the “Tuba Man” commercial shown on WTTV-TV 4 and local Indianapolis networks in the 1970s and 80s and wanted to usher in its return this season to the big screen inside Mackey Arena.

 

Purdue basketball fans throughout those decades fondly connected with “Tuba Man”, dusts off his old Purdue Marching Band instrument in the attic and begins playing the first few notes of the “Hail Purdue” fight song. Soon after, he hears the entire band playing the spirited tune with him. The spot will air in Mackey Arena before each home basketball game, just before tip off. It will not be aired on Purdue basketball telecasts.

 

“There’s no question ’Tuba Man’ was a fan favorite years ago, and we definitely know it will conjur up the same school pride and affinity that it did in its original run for those that remember the spot, as well as for those who are seeing it for the first time,” said Purdue’s Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Morgan Burke. “We’re excited the spot is making a comeback, thanks to a terrific partner, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance.”

 

“‘Tuba Man,’ in conjunction with the “Martha” spot created for Indiana University, are the most iconic advertisements in the 76-year history of Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance,” said Thomas J. Faulconer, Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance. “Not a day goes by we don’t hear questions about them and interestingly, people think we still use them. The nostalgic connection with the ads goes far beyond company branding and into the hearts of Hoosiers we serve. We’re eager to bring “Tuba Man” back as our gift to Boilermaker fans.”

 

In 1971 Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance became the sole sponsor of the Indiana University and Purdue University basketball games on WTTV-4. During the mid-1970s, the Indiana Legends ads, including the iconic “Tuba Man” campaign was introduced and ran during the basketball games until it eventually was shown only on local networks during newscasts.

 

Established in 1934 by Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc., Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, is currently the largest writer of farm insurance and the second largest writer of auto and home insurance in Indiana. Through the years, it’s expanded to include insurance products for auto, home, life, business and farm through its network of nearly 500 agents and 1200 employees living and working throughout the Hoosier state.

 

Purdue Sports Properties (PSP), the official multimedia rights holder for Purdue University Athletics, worked closely with Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance to ensure oversight of the “Tuba Man” return. In addition, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance has also dusted off the iconic “Martha the Cleaning Lady” TV spot created for Indiana University basketball and it will be seen on the big-screen before each home game at Assembly Hall.

 

PSP is a property of Learfield Sports, which manages the multimedia rights for more than 50 collegiate institutions and associations including the Big Ten Conference, as well as other league member schools Iowa, Minnesota, Penn State, Indiana and Wisconsin. The company also provides exclusive sports programming to more than 1,000 radio stations nationwide and titles the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup in conjunction with NADA and USA Today. Learfield Sports is an operating unit of Jefferson City, Missouri-based Learfield Communications, Inc., which entered the world of sports marketing in 1975. For more information, visit learfieldsports.com.

 

 

Posted on Monday, November 29, 2010