Brisbane NRL bid team to unveil sponsorships
Brisbane NRL bid consortium logo.
Source: The Courier-Mail
THE "Battle for Brisbane" will be declared today when the potential cross-town rival to glamour club Brisbane Broncos is launched with four big sponsorships.
The Brisbane expansion bid, gunning for NRL entry as early as 2013, will hold a press conference at Suncorp Stadium to launch a cutting-edge website and unveil its first four official sponsors.
The bid team will announce four key deals with Bundaberg Rum, kitwear giant Canterbury, media outlet Austereo and gaming agency Centrebet.
The Courier-Mail can also reveal the bid team will unveil
www.BattleForBrisbane.com.au a website enabling fans to offer suggestions and vote for the team's name and colours over the next six months.
Another six major sponsorship deals including a car maker, brewer, electrical giant and an insurance company are also being negotiated.
"We never envisaged we could generate this momentum. These sponsorships will show we are a serious player in the expansion race," said Brisbane bid spokesman Craig Davison.
In a series of other developments:
• The bid team has spoken to at least two investors expressing interest in bankrolling a second Brisbane NRL side;
• Despite not having an NRL licence, Brisbane companies have contacted the consortium seeking corporate boxes at Suncorp;
• Davison welcomed speculation master coach Wayne Bennett was set to shun interest from Souths and return to coach in Queensland.
The arrangement with Centrebet stands to become the most lucrative gaming contract in NRL history. It would eclipse the Broncos deal with Sportingbet, which was revealed just last week and is worth an estimated $1.8 million over three years.
Underlining the corporate appeal in a second Brisbane NRL team, the consortium is also finalising negotiations with another three leading companies, including an insurance rival to the Broncos major sponsor NRMA.
Should the consortium win an NRL licence, Bundaberg will move to sponsor a "Battle of Brisbane" trophy for Queensland derbies between the Broncos and the prospective franchise.
The three-man bid team is targeting a sponsorship war chest in excess of $10 million and Davison said the torrent of corporate support would make it difficult for the NRL to resist adding a second Brisbane team in 2013.
"We've been surprised by the intensity of the sponsors chasing us. It's flattering, we're already taking calls from businesses about corporate boxes and we don't even have a team yet," Davison said.
"The deals are taking into consideration that there is a three-stage process. The first stage is before the tenders are called, the second is when the tenders are called and the third stage is if we're told we're in the NRL and ready to go.
"We're really excited, we've got some people coming to us in regards to investment, we have serious backers out there wanting to be a part of this.
"We will have no problems filling our financial criteria. If we get into the NRL, we will have one of the biggest sponsorship bases in the competition."
It is understood Centrebet are prepared to extend their association to a five-or-six year deal worth between $3m to $5m, although they will not be the major sponsor.
Davison said reports Bennett is unlikely to join the Rabbitohs next season was positive news for the Brisbane bid team.
"The rumour is Wayne won't be going to Souths and could be on track to coach in Brisbane," he said.
"That's great. My stance all along is that we want the best CEO, best coach and best players if we clinch an NRL licence."
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...eil-sponsorships/story-e6frep5o-1226008951870
Would be sponsors are Bundaberg Rum, Centerbet Betting Agency and Austereo. Canterbury as there would be kit manufacturer. Rumors that they're looking to steal one of the Broncos main sponsors... (and people said this bid wouldn't affect the Broncos/Titans foothold..)
