The Lions have suffered another blow after being relegated from Super Rugby for the 2013 season as their stadium sponsor has pulled out after four years.
rugbyweek
The Lions home stadium Ellis Park has been known as Coca-Cola Park since 2008 but the Lions are now referring to the stadium a as Ellis Park – and not Coca-Cola Park.
A Lions press release this week referred to the stadium as Ellis Park and reports then followed confirming that Coca-Cola had ended their R12m-a-year deal in December last year.
The Lions then released a statement confirming that beverage company Coca-Cola had chosen not to renew their naming rights sponsorship of Ellis Park Stadium.
“We deliberated on this issue long and hard as (our sponsorship) has been a mutually beneficial association,” said Craig van Niekerk, Marketing Assets Manager at Coca-Cola South Africa.
“We have however evaluated our portfolio of assets and, for the next few years, our strategy will focus on youth sports development.”
“We wish the Golden Lions Rugby Union all the best in their future endeavours.”
Thats a shock – who saw that coming!!!!
This is the end of the Lions.
@ Loosehead:
Yes, its a blow, but do not write the Lions off.
FFS guys are you all still pissed from New Year.
On 27th November 2012 when the Lions announced their fixtures for 2013 they already refered to the stadium as Ellis Park for the 2013 fixtures.
The deal was only ever for 5 years and WAS NOT R 12m / year but was staggered with the first year almost nothing (< R1m) and the most money in the year of the FIFA 2010 World Cup.
It was always doubtful that it was going to be renewed as it was really just Coca-Cola'a attempt at getting around the anti-ambush marketing rules for the FIFA 2010 tournament.
But hey, I mentioned all of this last year but guess you all have fooking short memories.
Even more so as you fail to remember that in the past Loftus, Newlands and Kings Park have all had their naming rights sponsorships changed, but now that it's the Lions it's suddenly a fucking disaster and the "end" of the Lions and goodness knows what else.
SFMD (Selective Fooking Memory Syndrome). The disease that afflicts most Rugby Supporters in SA!
My comment posted last year.
Scrumdown
November 28th, 2012 at 07:48 SAST
3 @ grootblousmile:
It was a 5 year deal with Coca-Cola running 2008 – 2012 inclusive if my memory serves me correctly.
The sponsorship was staggered with almost nothing being paid the first 2 years, and the majority in 2010 to coincide with the FIFA 2010 tourney and then 2 smaller amounts in 2011 and 2012. (But not as small as 2008/9)
I assume there were penalty clauses preventings the GLRU from breaking the contract post 2010 that they (GLRU) probably couldn’t afford.
Let’s face facts, Ellis Park won’t be getting much TV coverage in 2013, so it’s not really surprising that Coca-Cola didn’t opt to renew. Would you?
4 @ Scrumdown:
I knew that, blame this article on the Author having a much to long festive jol…..
@ Scrumdown:
It seems that the Lions are always the target of pessimism amongst rugby supporters.
7 @ Lion4ever:Often with good reason.
@ Loosehead:
Granted, but even when things go relatively well for the Lions, people are negative. When the Lions beat the Sharks in the CC final, when all the Sharks Bokke were back, people devalued the victory and said it was because the players were suffring from fatigue, the Sharks returning Bokke had disrupted the rythm of the team etc. When WP won the CC, the rugby public lauded them as being deserved winners.
Lion4ever,
Good morning bud, just have to say I agree with you and very well said.
Anyhow at the time I did congratulate the Lions for their magnificent win and they hammered my Sharks in that final. Another thing I am damn pleased it is known as Ellis Park again. Great Stadium and I am pleased we will be playing the All Blacks there next year. Like our ‘house of pain’ that stadium.
Also for what it is worth I am really sorry that Lions will not be playing Super Rugby this year. What happened to them they did not truly deserve. Will support them in their relegation game in June. Looking forward to seeing them play some of the games that have been organised for them this year as well. Kudos to Lions for not laying down and getting on with it. Lions will have everyones support.
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