Vodafone To Leave 888!

[Mixer]

Originally Posted by peckstar

will Roland have a little tanty and start saying nasty things about the sponsor and running dodgy sponsorship like last time he lost a major sponsor?

You mean the supplier that was in arrears with its sponsorship and in fact in receivership before Bathurst?

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by Mixer

You mean the supplier that was in arrears with its sponsorship and in fact in receivership before Bathurst?

No I mean Ford who due to a slowing business had to reduce its sponsorship levels and gave Roland 6 months notice thery were not going to renew

[Denosaur]

Originally Posted by peckstar

will Roland have a little tanty and start saying nasty things about the sponsor and running dodgy sponsorship like last time he lost a major sponsor?

Roland's thing with Ford was one thing, but as for the Betta electrical deal, the money ran out as Betta was going bust. So rightly I think they didn't stump up the cash at the end, and he changed things.

My money would be Monster at this stage given they have expressed there interest previously.

Red Bull have previously got close to a deal with KR, but at the last minute killed it after orders from HQ. I'd see them teaming up with KR sooner than with T8.

[Denosaur]

Originally Posted by PVDA

So will they simply get a bigger sponsorship bucket or reduce the number of people/events to move into V8's with a greater presence??

From what I hear, most of those personal sponsorships start around a couple grand each. Most of the motorsport stuff where they take over the helmet design usually covers a couple of new helmets.

You think about the price of each can they sell, not to mention the countless t-shirts and silly flat peaked hats (excluding the knock-off gear) and how much margin they probably make. They are killing it!!

Energy drinks are the new tobacco sponsorships.......

[Mixer]

Originally Posted by peckstar

No I mean Ford who due to a slowing business had to reduce its sponsorship levels and gave Roland 6 months notice thery were not going to renew

Meh Ford at the time were acting like a bunch of nobs and unfortunately got their nose rubbed in it, the 2 teams they wisely cut from the roster won the next couple of championships...

Originally Posted by Denosaur

Energy drinks are the new tobacco sponsorships.......

With perhaps the same health risks!!!!

[sizzle]

Originally Posted by PVDA

Monster Energy Drink sponsors a lot of sporting events and teams at the moment;

FOUR WHEEL ASPHALT
Drifting
Formula 1
V8 Supercars
Go Karting
Formula Ford
Drag Racing
V8 Ute

you missed Nascar Nationwide!

I think a few people here should be posting here

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by Mixer

Meh Ford at the time were acting like a bunch of nobs and unfortunately got their nose rubbed in it, the 2 teams they wisely cut from the roster won the next couple of championships...

you mean they were having to cut back on their sponsorship because of financial issues just like vodaphone.

Well i guess thats acting like a bunch of Knobs

Hindsight shows they made the wrong choice, but they were not to know that at time

History shows Roland acted like a spoilt brat, and so did at least one of his drivers. I expect that to continue

[Mixer]

Originally Posted by peckstar

you mean they were having to cut back on their sponsorship because of financial issues just like vodaphone. Well i guess thats acting like a bunch of Knobs

I have no issue with the decision taken at the time it was a commercial necessity, however I do not think the relevant parties were given due respect.

Saying that 888 was being dropped because they were not blue and all that rubbish.

And on a personal basis I do not know how they could choose FPR and SBR or 888 and/or DJR.

[GTRMagic]

It isnt beyond the realms of possibility that there might be separate branding per car at 888 going forward.

Say perhaps a Norton #888 car... And a Masters #1 unit for example...

[F J Nedos]

Nah, the sponsorship has to be red.

If you keep the Roland/pommie thing going, wont Virgin be interestrd? I am sure the drivers would like a fresh new virgin!!!!

What about left field - Target... Coles....Canesten...

[rik]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

It isnt beyond the realms of possibility that there might be separate branding per car at 888 going forward.

Say perhaps a Norton #888 car... And a Masters #1 unit for example...

It will be interesting to see how T8 go with finding a new major sponsor(s)...

I'm sure all the commercial boffins will be watching closely, because if the most decorated team of the last 5+ years can't land a good deal, there's not a lot of hope for the rest.

[Razor]

Originally Posted by F J Nedos

I am sure the drivers would like a fresh new Virgin!!!!

I am not sure if Triple 888 is ready to jump into bed with Virgin and go all the way!

[HaydenFan]

Originally Posted by PVDA

So will they simply get a bigger sponsorship bucket or reduce the number of people/events to move into V8's with a greater presence??

With revenue's over nearly 2 billion USD, and being a relatively inexpensive product to make, Bumping up another 100 million to back the top team in the series (with already the team's top drives is backed by), wouldn't be too difficult IMO.

I think GTR's idea might be a situation that the team could steer towards. Has worked well in many motorsport series operating with individual sponsors. Would be less for the sponsors as they are backing only 1 car. Also, it could work in a different way. Dual sponsorships. It's been the trend in NASCAR to get multiple backers on the car.

[david5]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

It isnt beyond the realms of possibility that there might be separate branding per car at 888 going forward.

Say perhaps a Norton #888 car... And a Masters #1 unit for example...

Hear whispers about CL Norton & JW Monster.

[Oldtony]

OK, I'm a miserable old sod who is a harbinger of doom and gloom but I think this is much more a problem for the whole series than for just 888.
Granted Vodaphone are bleeding, and this is a decision to save money, but then there are not many firms outside of mining that are not bleeding too.
If the sponsor of the highest profile team drops out it puts a re-valuation of sponsorship across the whole field, and that can only be down in the current climate. Energy drinks and the cheap end of the booze market, and possibly gambling are about the only sectors with the volume and profitability that fit, and they bring problems of long term legal viability and social acceptabilty like tobbacco did.
We live in interesting times.

[HaydenFan]

Originally Posted by Oldtony

OK, I'm a miserable old sod who is a harbinger of doom and gloom but I think this is much more a problem for the whole series than for just 888.
Granted Vodaphone are bleeding, and this is a decision to save money, but then there are not many firms outside of mining that are not bleeding too.
If the sponsor of the highest profile team drops out it puts a re-valuation of sponsorship across the whole field, and that can only be down in the current climate. Energy drinks and the cheap end of the booze market, and possibly gambling are about the only sectors with the volume and profitability that fit, and they bring problems of long term legal viability and social acceptabilty like tobbacco did.
We live in interesting times.

Hasn't that always been an issue with many sponsors? Especially the one's really willing to spend the big bucks to race? Playboy has become much more accepted in society now than before, transcending naked women, but the German porn site backing a 20 year old kid running in F2 is another thing. Doctors and many within the health field condemning energy drinks, yet every young driver with a lick of talent seems to have the flat bill hate from Red Bull or Monster, or whoever makes the stuff nowadays.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by Oldtony

OK, I'm a miserable old sod who is a harbinger of doom and gloom but I think this is much more a problem for the whole series than for just 888.
Granted Vodaphone are bleeding, and this is a decision to save money, but then there are not many firms outside of mining that are not bleeding too.
If the sponsor of the highest profile team drops out it puts a re-valuation of sponsorship across the whole field, and that can only be down in the current climate. Energy drinks and the cheap end of the booze market, and possibly gambling are about the only sectors with the volume and profitability that fit, and they bring problems of long term legal viability and social acceptabilty like tobbacco did.
We live in interesting times.

I think it's a little early to be going down the harbinger of doom path. Vodafone have been sponsoring the team for quite a few years and the sponsor, team and sport have all had a good run out of it.

Vodafone's problem is that they are not just bleeding, they are losing large amounts of money hand over fist, have lost literally several hundred thousand customers and their sponsorships have for some outside the company been seen as "fiddling while Rome burns". For the overall goal of rebuilding their corporate image and getting the company back to at least break even, they had to cut back on the sponsorship activities.

Ever since the company hit that massive problem with coverage after amalgamating with 3 it has most likely been a question of "when" rather than "whether" they'd pull back on sponsorships.

Not at all sure that this could be painted across the other teams as a sport wide issue.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Tourer

I think it's a little early to be going down the harbinger of doom path. Vodafone have been sponsoring the team for quite a few years and the sponsor, team and sport have all had a good run out of it.

Vodafone's problem is that they are not just bleeding, they are losing large amounts of money hand over fist, have lost literally several hundred thousand customers and their sponsorships have for some outside the company been seen as "fiddling while Rome burns". For the overall goal of rebuilding their corporate image and getting the company back to at least break even, they had to cut back on the sponsorship activities.

Ever since the company hit that massive problem with coverage after amalgamating with 3 it has most likely been a question of "when" rather than "whether" they'd pull back on sponsorships.

Not at all sure that this could be painted across the other teams as a sport wide issue.

If you looked at the bigger picture, the likes of Vodafone/VHA and Optus have discovered (with the help of the geniuses bring us the NBN that we never asked for...) that pumping a kazillion dollars into network infrastructure for towers and aerials all round the place that will NEVER cover the same size, location or quality as the incumbent who has invested more and for longer, that the business model will soon change... or they will die.

Vodafone/VHA and Optus are talking of some significant joint venture work, of sharing their networks, to reduce the reliance on pumping billions of dollars into another rollout when 4G really takes off

Makes sense to wind back the sponsorships on that basis, until the platform is more stable, and indeed the cost base is at a point where being price competitive actually means profitability is forthcoming, rather than living in the world of a startup... where cash isnt a worry as there are always new banks and investors to target....

There were rumours some time ago that Vodafone Oz was looking for a buyer... but apparently couldnt find one... at the right price...

Do we put these guys on the list of companies that havent converted motorsport sponsorship into financial fortune?

[GTRMagic]

Autosport thought it was interesting...

[GTRMagic]

Hmmmmm....

[yap]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Hmmmmm....

Wouldn't think it would be here, more likely over at the kindergarten

[Umai Naa]

Can't be about us. We've only speculated positive things

[ford71]

Originally Posted by Scrut

Don't see this happening, as they don't use the advertised product.
Maybe CSR sugar could be a possibility.

Funny CSR sugar is brought up - I figured the ideal 2013 sponsor for Charlie Schwerkolt Racing

[GTRMagic]

Given that both the Pepsi and the Monster Energy brands are manufactured and distributed under licence by Schweppes... it is entirely possible that the brand plan could be consolidated into one package...

Perhaps Pepsi Max Crew could become the brand adorning #1/#88 in 2013, not Monster...

[Mixer]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Perhaps Pepsi Max Crew could become the brand adorning #1/#88 in 2013, not Monster...

Or Pepsi Max Crew with CL & Murph, and JW in Monster colours, that would be a very formidable and marketable team.