Members Equity Bank (MEB) and the Melbourne Storm have joined forces for the next three years. The new multi-million deal will see Members Equity Bank becoming the club's front-of-jersey sponsor until the end of the 2011 season.
Storm CEO Brian Waldron is delighted to have found a major partner in MEB, particularly in the current financial climate.
"We're delighted to welcome Members Equity Bank into the Melbourne Storm family and we're looking forward to working together over the next three years," said Waldron.
"Given the current financial climate, for the Storm to secure a major partner of the stature of Members Equity Bank just goes to show how strong the Melbourne Storm brand is.
"We believe there is a great deal of synergy in the core values of both the Melbourne Storm and Members Equity Bank. We're both innovative organisations who like to celebrate the successful times, but are always striving to become even better."
Anthony Wamsteker, Chief Executive Officer of Members Equity Bank, agrees that the sponsorship presents an exciting opportunity for the bank to be involved with a successful and high profile sporting organisation.
"This sponsorship presents a unique path to showcase the MEB product suite and promote brand recognition to new customers across Australia," he said.
"It becomes even more important in these economic times to increase dialogue and communicate with members through marketing, advertising, and at intimate community levels, such as the platform provided to Members Equity by Melbourne Storm."
MEB's partnership with the Storm has come on the back of outstanding sponsor exposure results for the club.
In the latest S-Comm report, produced by Australia's leading sponsorship research and evaluation company Repucom, the Melbourne Storm jersey is the most valuable property across both the NRL and AFL, with more than $4.2 million generated in media return in season 2008. This figure takes into account only the front of the jersey, and the top of the back of the jersey.
MEB replaces Medibank Private who had been the Storm's front-of-jersey sponsor since 2006.
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