Super League begins search for new title sponsor

[Swamp]

http://www.superleague.co.uk/article/25798/super-league-begins-search-for

Rugby League’s flagship competition, the Super League, has begun the search for a new title sponsor from the 2013 season onwards to build on its successful marketing collaboration with the Stobart Group.
Since entering into an innovative partnership for 2012, the Stobart Super League has increased its TV audience by 45 per cent and experienced record attendances to elevate the sport’s profile to unprecedented levels.
That success has put Super League in a prime position to increase commercial revenues and accelerate its development under a new title sponsor from the 2013 season onwards.
Super League Commercial Director James Mercer said: “We are delighted at the success of our one-year partnership with Stobart and the exposure that this ground-breaking concept has created.
“The partnership has placed the sport in a wonderful position to move into the next cycle of our commercial strategy in 2013.
“Innovation has always been at the heart of the Super League and this collaboration showcased the creativity and unity of our clubs. “With a combined TV audience of over 25 million, huge attendance levels and a national and international expansion the sport is well-placed for an exciting future”.
Super League (Europe) and the Stobart Group have mutually agreed to end a collaboration which has grown TV audiences on Sky Sports to record levels in a season which is set to see aggregate attendances break the two million mark for the first time in history.
The decision to end the partnership was based on Super League having achieved its target of increased visibility and profile and the need to realise the next objective of monetising the competition’s title sponsorship.
Stobart Group Chief Executive Andrew Tinkler said: “Stobart Group is pleased to have contributed to the promotion and success of the Super League in 2012, with a 45 per cent increase in television audiences.
“The plan was always to review the partnership after the first year and we’ve decided to step back and allow the RFL to work with commercial partners that can offer the financial support it needs to further develop.
“As such both parties have mutually agreed to end the collaboration at the close of the season."

Should this be reason for concern considering the state of the UK economy.

 

[BODISGOD]

Might experience a post Olympics bounce in sports interest across the UK.

 

[LeedsStorm]

http://www.superleague.co.uk/article/25798/super-league-begins-search-forShould this be reason for concern considering the state of the UK economy.

Since the Stobart "sponsorship" didn't actually provide rugby league with any direct funding, this is great news. I expect they'll attract sufficient interest

 

[nadera78]

Since the Stobart "sponsorship" didn't actually provide rugby league with any direct funding, this is great news. I expect they'll attract sufficient interest

The alternative was a late-tabled bid from Betfair which valued the sponsorship at 250k a year. An absolutely pathetic sum really, it's no surprise the SL clubs turned it down.

The problem RL has is that it's hidden away from the public. Outside of SKY Sports, the media ignores us for 99% of the year, and when they do cover us it's because of some scandal or other. Yes we get fantastic viewing figures on Sky, smashing rahrah to bits in fact, but sponsors want to know that they'll get constant, day-in day-out coverage. And we struggle to provide that.

 

[Swamp]

Since the Stobart "sponsorship" didn't actually provide rugby league with any direct funding, this is great news. I expect they'll attract sufficient interest

After posting I thought about it some & decided that there has been obviously good exposure for the game. Now any monetary terms can only beat what they currently have.

 

[Sam_the_man]

Might experience a post Olympics bounce in sports interest across the UK.

All sports in NZ expereinced the opposite after the RU world cup. Interest in the ESL may be increased once the Olypics are over.

 

[roughyedspud]

would'nt be surpised if gillette made a bid

 

[BODISGOD]

Perhaps, it's a rough time in Europe.

 

[roughyedspud]

its not that rough that people can't afford to shave.......gillette and proctor & gamble have plenty of money ;-)

 

[BODISGOD]

its not that rough that people can't afford to shave.......gillette and proctor & gamble have plenty of money ;-)

Aye they'd want to with their razors costing 12 euro for 4 in the supermarket.

 

[geordiesaint]

Since the Stobart "sponsorship" didn't actually provide rugby league with any direct funding, this is great news. I expect they'll attract sufficient interest

The funding was gained through the Stobart deal being inexclusive meaning the RFL could sell other sponsor rights to the likes of Heinz and Engage, something previous sponsorship deals including the Betfair bid wouldn't allow!

 

[Newie is God's Country]

The entire ESL needs a revolution from the ground up and a new TV deal with more money will have a massive flow on effect. I really hope that the new sponsor has a vision and not just seeing dollar signs. A Gilette Super League will cause many more people to watch simply cos Gillette are world leaders in their area. They are seen as cool and have famous sportsman attached to them. Those numbers mentioned are encouraging but does anyone else here think the clubs should be cut down to 10 or 11 for a short term to ensure that more quality across the board is available? Salford, Wakefield, Castleford and Widnes are just making up numbers.

 

[VictoryFC]

The entire ESL needs a revolution from the ground up and a new TV deal with more money will have a massive flow on effect. I really hope that the new sponsor has a vision and not just seeing dollar signs. A Gilette Super League will cause many more people to watch simply cos Gillette are world leaders in their area. They are seen as cool and have famous sportsman attached to them. Those numbers mentioned are encouraging but does anyone else here think the clubs should be cut down to 10 or 11 for a short term to ensure that more quality across the board is available? Salford, Wakefield, Castleford and Widnes are just making up numbers.

Did you really just say that? Who has ever watched something because of a sponsor? The reason why sponsors sign up is so they can visible to the people already watching. No one goes out of their way to watch sports because of the sponsors involved. SL needs to get the most money it can out of any deal, because that will keep the game going from strength to strength.

 

[geordiesaint]

The entire ESL needs a revolution from the ground up and a new TV deal with more money will have a massive flow on effect. Those numbers mentioned are encouraging but does anyone else here think the clubs should be cut down to 10 or 11 for a short term to ensure that more quality across the board is available? Salford, Wakefield, Castleford and Widnes are just making up numbers.

SL has just had an increased TV deal and the RFL from other TV sources equating to £135m over the next five years. Nothing in comparison compared to the NRL but growing all the time.

You are starting to see signs at two of the clubs you've mentioned there. Wakefield are coming along in leaps and bounds as a club and recently on the field. Widnes are improving as a club all the time. Castleford are struggling immensely whilst Salford have improved on the field but are still inconsistent and seemingly not particularly well-run off the field. That professionalism from top to bottom is the key and sadly the southern hemisphere are by and large way ahead of SL in this aspect.