RSS FeedRBS Sponsorship Boost For Six Nations
There was some welcome relief for the sponsorship sector this week following the news that banking group RBS is to renew its sponsorship of rugby union’s Six Nations.
Despite the fact that RBS is heading for a £28 billion annual loss, the bank has decided to pay around £20 million for a deal which will run from 2010 to 2013. By the end of that term, it will have partnered the event for a decade. Commenting on the decision to renew, a bank spokesperson told the BBC that the “sponsorship has been selected to meet very specific objectives within the competing nations.”
RBS (which employs Synergy as its sponsorship consultancy) had been expected to follow other financial services groups which have dropped out of sponsorships as a result of the poor economic climate. Credit Suisse, for example, is ending its relationship with F1 team BMW Sauber while ING is to re-evaluate its own Renault F1 deal.
The biggest story, however, is the decision by US insurance group AIG to quit its Manchester United sponsorship at the end of this season. The FA Premier League champions are now looking for a replacement from 2010/2011. Names touted include Indian company Sahara and Saudi Telecom. With its emphasis on oil-rich or growth economies, United believes it will surpass the £14m a year paid by AIG.
