NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Just in time for the start of the college football season, Nissan and ESPN are bringing The Nissan Heisman House back, giving fans a glimpse of what it might be like if the winners of the Heisman Trophy lived and played together under one roof. While lighthearted in approach, the unique marketing campaign is part of Nissan’s ongoing support of the Heisman Trust’s year-round community support and charitable efforts. College football fans are also given the opportunity to vote for their favorite 2014 Heisman Trophy candidates, with Nissan’s official vote given to the crowd-sourced winner.
Currently in its fourth year, this year’s Nissan Heisman House campaign stars 11 Heisman Trophy winners in humorous vignettes and stunts, an interactive website and a Heisman House Tour that will travel to college campuses throughout the season. A behind-the-scenes show featuring footage and interviews with the featured Heisman members will continue to air through August 28 on ESPNU. The website, along with a series of spots, will debut on August 28 across ESPN’s platforms.
The concept of the house revolves around the online platform, www.NissanHeismanHouse.com, where fans can tour the house, learn about current members, vote for the next Heisman Trophy winner and watch behind-the-scenes footage filmed during the campaign production. Eight of Nissan’s highest-rated vehicles, including the Nissan GT-R, Altima, Titan, Pathfinder, Murano, Rogue and JUKE are featured prominently in the campaign.
“Nissan’s Heisman House brings to life a fantasy for most college football fans – just hanging out with some of the best college football players that ever played the game,” said Fred Diaz, senior vice president, Nissan Sales & Marketing and Operations, Nissan North America, Inc. “Not only is it great to join ESPN in bringing a little more fun and excitement to games this fall, Nissan is particularly proud to play a role in some of the rewarding work of the Heisman Trust.”
The Heisman House campaign supports Nissan’s long-running sponsorship of the Heisman Memorial Trophy Award. In recent years, the partnership has expanded beyond the “Heisman House” and the Nissan Heisman vote to help raise the visibility of The Heisman Trust’s mission of supporting the underprivileged and underserved.
This dovetails with Nissan’s mission to improve the communities where its employees and customers live. A number of Heisman winners have joined Nissan in support of its ongoing Habitat for Humanity efforts, including an annual weekend of service.
This past year, six Heisman winners joined Nissan in Texas to build a Habitat home and conduct a youth football clinic for underprivileged kids – joint activities supporting both organizations’ missions and further demonstrating the power of the partnership. Through these expanded activities, the Heisman legends work closely with Nissan employees toward a common philanthropic goal.
About the Heisman House Creative
This season’s Heisman House campaign showcases six vignettes directed by Erich Joiner, with cinematography from three-time Academy Award winner Robert Richardson. The spots introduce newcomers John David Crow, Johnny Manziel, George Rogers, Roger Staubach, Billy Sims, Andre Ware and Charles Woodson alongside returning members Marcus Allen, Tony Dorsett, Robert Griffin III and Ricky Williams.
Each of the six 45-second spots explores comical scenarios that might result from 11 former Heisman winners sharing the same house. In one of the vignettes, the legendary Roger Staubach gets into a generational feud when he has to share a room with rookie Johnny “Football” Manziel. Other topics featured include RGIII's penchant for trademark disputes and not-so-friendly pick-up football games in the backyard.
“With seven new Heisman winners joining the cast, a renowned director onboard and great storytelling, this year’s campaign will continue to tell the tale of the distinguished Heisman House while seamlessly incorporating Nissan’s brand,” said Sean Hanrahan, senior vice president, Marketing Solutions, ESPN.
The Nissan Heisman House Tour also returns, featuring a simulated Heisman House that will travel to different college campuses throughout the country leading up to the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship Game presented by AT&T. The Tour will again provide fans with the opportunity to enjoy the Heisman House living room, take photos with the Trophy and meet some of the Heisman Trophy winners and ESPN talent.
The campaign was developed in collaboration with TBWA\Chiat\Day, OMD and ESPN’s in-house creative team, CreativeWorks.
About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com, or visit the Americas media sites NissanNews.com and InfinitiNews.com.
About Nissan Motor Co.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 244,500 employees globally, Nissan sold almost 5.2 million vehicles and generated revenue of 10.5 trillion yen (USD 105 billion) in fiscal 2013. Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of more than 60 models under the Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun brands. In 2010, Nissan introduced the Nissan LEAF, and continues to lead in zero-emission mobility. The LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle launched globally, is now the best-selling EV in history with almost 50% share of the zero-emission vehicle segment.
For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/.
About ESPN
ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment company, features more than 50 assets – seven U.S. television networks, ESPN International, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by The Hearst Corporation.
About the Heisman Trophy Trust
The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player in the United States. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. The Heisman Trophy Trust ensures the continuation and integrity of this award. The Trust, furthermore, has a charitable mission to support amateur athletes and to provide greater opportunities to the youth of our country. Our goal through these charitable endeavors is for The Heisman Trophy to symbolize the fostering of a sense of community responsibility and service to our youth, especially those disadvantaged or afflicted.
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