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Their current sponsorship deal will not be renewed when it runs out next year.
Is this indicative that the public perception of the race is actually negative for racing generally ?Their current sponsorship deal will not be renewed when it runs out next year.
Is this indicative that the public perception of the race is actually negative for racing generally ?I’m not surprised, for two reasons – firstly if I was a director of a major commercial organisation I wouldn’t want to be associated with the race. Secondly I suspect the move to Channel Four would also be a major factor, if the audience for the race is going to be drastically reduced then the product will not be worth as much.
(I’m not making those comments because of my personal ambivalence to the Grand National – the comments are based on commercial realities)
I will be surprised if anyone, other than a bookmaker, would want to take on the sponsorship and I would also be surprised if they are able to maintain the current level of prize money in 2014.
You just beat me to this story Coggy. My first reaction was oh oh this will do nothing to safeguard the future of the race in the face of a lot of hostile reactions. The same as the UK being part of Europe I don’t believe the majority of ordinary people are that interested in the safety of the race but its all blown out of all proportion by people like the RSPCA and the tabloid press.
The course management say there should be no problem finding new sponsors but I wonder how optimistic they are being in the current economic environment, and are they prepared to put up with the amount of negative coverage the race will get from now on.
I agree with paulostermeyer, I think many people will regret Channel 4 taking over sole coverage of our sport.
The image of John Smiths did fit well with the race. It is hard to think of companies with similar vibes that would fit as well. There are Twitter whispers that
Strongbow
are interested in taking up sponsorship, though.
Too soon to say whether this is anything to do with the safety/"cruelty" issue, although it must reduce the number of possible new sponsers.
Suspect their decision is because any sponser will need to know how many people will tune in to Channel 4 before they know whether it is financially viable / how much money to offer. No surprise John Smiths (or anyone else) doesn’t want to commit until viewing figures are known.
Value Is EverythingDon’t know whether our Australian friends can tell us if their jumping sponsers were the first to run for cover when safety began to be an issue there? ie Not wanting to be associated with a so called "cruel" sport.
Value Is EverythingThe image of John Smiths did fit well with the race. It is hard to think of companies with similar vibes that would fit as well
I believe Pedigree Petfoods are very keen to sponsor the whole three days, with the proviso that their knacker man’s truck is permiitted to park on the infield, tailboard dropped and winch readied
The Whiskas Foxhunters
The Kit-E-Kat Topham
The Pedigree Chum Grand National…in the best possible taste
The best suggestion I have seen online so far is the wonga.com Grand National
Seems appropriate on so many levels!!!
I think Ch 4 is the key , I wonder just how long it will take at BHA towers to appreciate what an enormous cock up it is to have them as the sole Tv Channell
Wonder if Investec will follow suit ???
IMO
Ricky
Rightly or wrongly the race has become a PR timebomb.
As for Ch4, little choice really for racing, BBC only wanted to cherry-pick. Their overhead shots of Dooney’s Gate and Ornais didn’t help them or racing
Aintree has always wanted a £1m National; they might need to dig deep in their own pockets now to meet that ambition
Aintree has always wanted a £1m National; they might need to dig deep in their own pockets now to meet that ambition
I wouldn’t be surprised if it occurs in 4 months time and I also wouldn’t be surprised if John Smiths made the decision some time ago not to continue but wanted to end their sponsorship with the first million pound National, after all they could have done it a few months ago for the sake of a few grand.
As usual you get the usual doom mongers regards the race on here, sponsors change all the time and the television contract involves more than just the one race, market forces will rule but everything will be alright in the end, no doubt to the chagrin of one or two of the usual suspects on here.
Could be a good race for Betfair to sponsor.
I think Ch 4 is the key , I wonder just how long it will take at BHA towers to appreciate what an enormous cock up it is to have them as the sole Tv Channell
Wonder if Investec will follow suit ???
IMO
Ricky
Why blame BHA for this ? The decision to go with Channel 4 is down to the courses.The BBC covered very little and Ascot and Aintree would have negotiated their own TV rights. The Derby has flip flopped between Channel 4 and BBC anyway. C4 offered a better deal for the courses so they took that.
We should be grateful for the coverage racing gets. I would think racing gets more live coverage on terrestrial TV than any other sport, despite it being a minority interest.We get preety good coverage in the press, certainly compared to America.
Aintree has always wanted a £1m National; they might need to dig deep in their own pockets now to meet that ambition
I wouldn’t be surprised if it occurs in 4 months time and I also wouldn’t be surprised if John Smiths made the decision some time ago not to continue but wanted to end their sponsorship with the first million pound National, after all they could have done it a few months ago for the sake of a few grand.
As usual you get the usual doom mongers regards the race on here, sponsors change all the time and the television contract involves more than just the one race, market forces will rule but everything will be alright in the end, no doubt to the chagrin of one or two of the usual suspects on here.
Could be a good race for Betfair to sponsor.
As you mention, had JS wanted to throw a wee bit more at it, they could have made the million this year. I’m not so sure it would be a good thing for their man-in-the-street brand in these austere times to be perceived as spending £1m on the race. It would have been a nice fit for Martell but not JS imo. I doubt they will bow out with £1m but we shall see.
And one man’s doom-monger is another man’s realist; Heineken,JS parent company, is reported to have been growing increasingly anxious about horse deaths.
I’ve no doubt a new sponsor will be found but I’d bet a lot that they will have a break clause linked to PR fallout.
I think more and more companies will be extremely wary of associating themselves with the National especially as the mainstream press cannot refer to the race without mentioning the deaths of Synchronised and According To Pete.
Off the top of my head I think a new sponsor will come from one of the following and will almost certainly be from the Gaming (I refuse to call them bookies these days) Industry.
Betfair
Paddy Power
BetfredLets see…
Heineken,JS parent company, is reported to have been growing increasingly anxious about horse deaths.
Good for them, if your report is correct (doubtful). I wonder if they are as equally anxious about the effects of drinking alcohol on family life and the many lives lost or ruined by it.
It’s a pity the wealthy Sheikhs don’t show the same interest in NH racing as they do on the Flat otherwise they could "step in" !
Then again would any of us really want it called …
The Emirates Grand National ?
The Etihad Grand National ?
The Burj-El-Arab Grand National ?
One of the top bookmakers look most likely to get involved,though what a travesty that it joins the FA Cup Final in leaving the BBC!
The great memories of the 60s,70s and 80s can never be forgotten !
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