Commercial performance and sponsorship of SL

[Dave T]

This seems to be one of the first times in recent years that we have not seen new partners on board for SL in the lead up to the season.

The refs now have no shirt sponsor.

No WCC sponsor. 

When are we going to start to see increased focus in this area?

[tuutaisrambo]

What happened to the mushy peas deal?

[Dave T]

4 minutes ago, tuutaisrambo said:

What happened to the mushy peas deal?

that was extended to be fair, although not a new partner.

[EastLondonMike]

Would this have anything to do with the RFL/SL split?

[Clogiron]

14 minutes ago, tuutaisrambo said:

What happened to the mushy peas deal?

Big Nige ate them all

[DlEHARD]

Gee that is no good. 

[Damien]

I do get the feeling that major brands and companies wouldn't want to be associated with Rugby League even if it was for free. Heck even if Rugby League paid companies they still wouldn't want to be associated. Rugby League has major issues with its image and stereotype which it needs to address to attract decent sponsors. It's all a bit chicken and egg but blue chip sponsors would immediately be put off a sport that has Mushy Peas and bingo as sponsors. Good partners attract other good partners.

[RP London]

45 minutes ago, Dave T said:

This seems to be one of the first times in recent years that we have not seen new partners on board for SL in the lead up to the season.

The refs now have no shirt sponsor.

No WCC sponsor. 

When are we going to start to see increased focus in this area?

Do the refs not? thought they still had spec savers.. certainly the touchy did in this photo

[Just Browny]

Fairly sure Elstone will get on this once he has sorted out the Wigan points deduction.

[Oliver Clothesoff]

1 minute ago, Just Browny said:

Fairly sure Elstone will get on this once he has sorted out the Wigan points deduction.

He’s been in the role since June 2018, he’s had eight months to find commercial partners for this season. 

[Clogiron]

10 minutes ago, RP London said:

Do the refs not? thought they still had spec savers.. certainly the touchy did in this photo

Indeed he does, none in the TV games last weekend had though.  Looking at that picture, love both shirt's, it's a wonder that club's haven't introduced long sleeve shirts again to give them another few cms for advertising, it's not a good look is it?   In motorsport it's known as a sticker car/bike, no big sponsor just a long list of names or sticker's from anybody you can cadge a few quid off, not really a look that major sponsors might want to be associated with.

[Mattrhino]

5 minutes ago, Clogiron said:

Indeed he does, none in the TV games last weekend had though.  Looking at that picture, love both shirt's, it's a wonder that club's haven't introduced long sleeve shirts again to give them another few cms for advertising, it's not a good look is it?   In motorsport it's known as a sticker car/bike, no big sponsor just a long list of names or sticker's from anybody you can cadge a few quid off, not really a look that major sponsors might want to be associated with.

To be fair we are not alone in that respect most sporting comps around Europe and the world have even worse amount of sponsors on apparell just look at sports like Ice Hockey, Basketball and handball etc.. on the continent every square inch is covered.

[Mattrhino]

It is a bit unnerving that Elstone has been in his role for nearly a year now and hasn't brought any new commercial partners onboard. Maybe he needs to borrow Barwicks black book.

[RP London]

4 minutes ago, Mattrhino said:

To be fair we are not alone in that respect most sporting comps around Europe and the world have even worse amount of sponsors on apparell just look at sports like Ice Hockey, Basketball and handball etc.. on the continent every square inch is covered.

French Rugby Union is quite bad too.... clubs do still get the likes of VW and Cap Gemini etc to sponsor them though... the good ones understand and still sponsor even if there are lots of sponsors.. we just cant seem to attract them at the moment.

[Dave T]

1 hour ago, scotchy1 said:

Most of the commercial properties in SL are already signed up

What is that based on? It simply isn't true.

Our portfolio is far smaller than some previous years.

 

[Big Picture]

2 hours ago, Damien said:

I do get the feeling that major brands and companies wouldn't want to be associated with Rugby League even if it was for free. Heck even if Rugby League paid companies they still wouldn't want to be associated. Rugby League has major issues with its image and stereotype which it needs to address to attract decent sponsors. It's all a bit chicken and egg but blue chip sponsors would immediately be put off a sport that has Mushy Peas and bingo as sponsors. Good partners attract other good partners.

No doubt the publicized worries about Toronto "bringing no away fans" reinforced that negative image by showing just how small time the sport is in the UK.

[Dave T]

57 minutes ago, scotchy1 said:

What properties are without sponsors?

This is odd. 

For a long time we have heard how we are a commercial basket case, we have fewer sponsors this year, but you are saying we are pretty much full?

Is this an acknowledgement that the RFL had done a good job with the commercial performance?

[Gooleboy]

4 hours ago, tuutaisrambo said:

What happened to the mushy peas deal?

Apparently it blew itself out!

[Dave T]

Just now, scotchy1 said:

? Not really.

If we have X amount of commercial properties and we sell them all for Y amount we can't then resell them. That doesnt mean that we have done a good job selling them for Y amount.

If the RFL have sold the title sponsorship to betfred for £500k we can't then go sell it to Barclays for £2m whether they are offering that or not. We can have sold all our properties for a paltry sum.

Based on th3 fact we have fewer sponsors than many previous years, what makes you say we are pretty much sold out?

[Gooleboy]

3 hours ago, Just Browny said:

Fairly sure Elstone will get on this once he has sorted out the Wigan points deduction.

He is probably getting advice from the NRL to see if he can get any of their Sponsors on board here, as he seems to like copying what the Aussies do.

[Mr Plow]

1 hour ago, Big Picture said:

No doubt the publicized worries about Toronto "bringing no away fans" reinforced that negative image by showing just how small time the sport is in the UK.

And what people don’t realise is teams like Toronto and Catalans bring new sponsors to the game. Haven’t Catalans just signed a sponsorship with one of the richest men in France?

[JohnM]

5 hours ago, Mattrhino said:

It is a bit unnerving that Elstone has been in his role for nearly a year now and hasn't brought any new commercial partners onboard. Maybe he needs to borrow Barwicks black book.

I wouldn't like you to pull a pint for me!  8 months nearly a year?  

[Scubby]

6 hours ago, Dave T said:

that was extended to be fair, although not a new partner.

Might be a watered down deal. Makes them go further.

[Chamey]

6 hours ago, Dave T said:

that was extended to be fair, although not a new partner.

That's probably a net negative, no blue chip firm wants to be associated with mushy peas.

[Scubby]

6 hours ago, Dave T said:

This seems to be one of the first times in recent years that we have not seen new partners on board for SL in the lead up to the season.

The refs now have no shirt sponsor.

No WCC sponsor. 

When are we going to start to see increased focus in this area?

If I were a potential sponsor and I asked "what was your long term plan for the WCC concept?" What on earth would they say?