Vodafone no longer Wallabies sponsor

[choc_soldier]

From the Fox Sports website...

Vodafone drops the Wallabies
February 24, 2004

THE Wallabies have lost naming rights sponsor Vodafone after the telecommunications company said the Australian rugby union side could not provide it with sufficient exposure in the next two years.

Vodafone had been a sponsor of the national team for six years.

Vodafone Australia chief executive Grahame Maher said the company could not justify investing similar amounts of money in the Wallabies as it spent in the lead-up to last year's rugby World Cup in Australia.

"The ARU's expectation of Vodafone to continue to invest similar amounts over the coming years to sponsor the Wallabies was hard to justify given the lack of international exposure over the next two years, as compared to the previous four," Maher said in a statement.

"Furthermore we have serious concerns over the continuing conflicts that exist between team sponsors and international events.

"Like many sponsors this became evident to us during the 2003 Rugby World Cup, where despite our long-term support we had limited opportunities to maximise our direct association with the team or players."

"We understand from the ARU that if we were to remain the naming rights sponsor of the Wallabies, they would not be in a position to resolve these issues as they do not have control over the rights of international events."

So they are no longer the Vodafone Wallabies.

Perhaps they can revert back to the original name - AUSTRALIA. Unless they find another sponsor of course... which they will.

 

[Moffo]

:lol: @ ARU

 

[Mr Angry]

Looking at that, there is a wider issue for many sporting team/clubs etc in this decision than laughing @ the ARU, but like Moffo that was my first reaction :lol:

"Furthermore we have serious concerns over the continuing conflicts that exist between team sponsors and international events. Like many sponsors this became evident to us during the 2003 Rugby World Cup, where despite our long-term support we had limited opportunities to maximise our direct association with the team or players."

I am sure they are not the only company thinking this way, cricket and others have this same issue, do you have the answer?

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

with all the money they made from the w.c surely they can pay some free to air station to put it on :?

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

isn't tooheys going to sponser the wannabe's :?:
i think its stupid that u have to lose ur sponsorship just because some other company wants there naming rights all over the place,if sport is going like this,maybe clubs,sports in general with start to think about not playing in certain places,and that sucks.open it up and let anyone put sponsership in grounds and on products,that sounds fair to me ;-)

u dont go there to look at who is sponsering it,u go there to see ur sport.

 

[El Diablo]

I think Tooheys sponsored the Super 12 after the previous sponsor dumped them.

It sounds like the ARU got greedy and thought their product was worth paying the same rate for after the WC even though there will be bugger all yawnion on TV.

I think the Crazy John Wallabies would sound rather funny. Hope he sponsors them :lol:

 

[Dean Moriarty]

Don't forget if you sponsor the Wallabies, you get John Howard to wear your logo every day. Maybe the ALP should put some cash up.

 

[ripper]

So would u if had 5 million smackas dangled in front of your face

 

[Dean Moriarty]

So would u if had 5 million smackas dangled in front of your face

You've lost me there?

 

[ripper]

Tooheys put in 5 million. So it makes sense to want your major sponser to match a so called ''minor'' sponser

 

[Dr Crane]

Didn't Vodafone also sponser the Australian side of the Super 12....?

 

[choc_soldier]

Didn't Vodafone also sponser the Australian side of the Super 12....?

Yeah, it was the Vodafone Super 12, now it's the Tooheys New Super 12.

I was reading today that it seems to be a two horse race between Telstra and Bundy Rum. So it seems that there are companies still willing to associate themselves with the Wallabies.