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Okay, maybe we're not absolutely rolling in it, but 2 new sponsers is a great thing!
Saints 'sell' coach's box for colour of money
By Caroline Wilson
April 01 2003
St Kilda has failed as yet to make any on-field impact in 2003 but the club's off-field fortunes have taken a colourful turn with the revelation of an innovative six-figure sponsorship agreement quite literally surrounding coach Grant Thomas.
The AFL has relented and allowed the Saints' coach's box at Telstra Dome to be painted a different colour at each of the club's eight home games this season as part of a $150,000 sponsorship deal with British Paints.
St Kilda's round-two home clash with Adelaide on Saturday will have the roof, front and sides of the coach's box covered in a substance designed by Dulux as part of the paint company's new campaign. Supporters will be asked to take part in selecting which colour will decorate the box at each game.
The AFL has insisted the Saints proceed with caution in their colour schemes. Pink is understood to be on the banned list.
"The AFL will have to approve the colour and obviously we wouldn't be doing anything too outrageous," said St Kilda chief executive Brian Waldron yesterday.
"We think it's unique and it's different and we've constantly been asked by the AFL to come up with something unique and different."
League commercial operations chief Ben Buckley admitted yesterday he was initially concerned at the prospect of recolouring the coach's box for each home game but allowed the deal to go ahead, given the financial extent of the new agreement.
"We need to be innovative," Buckley said. "But we need to make the broader point that we put the integrity of the game first."
While the Saints have endured a dismal, injury-plagued pre-season and disappointing round-one loss to the Kangaroos, the club's progress in turning around its financial plight has been encouraging.
St Kilda has also become the sixth club to announce a ball sponsor, with a further six-figure deal having been struck yesterday with internet recruitment company Seek.
At least eight AFL teams are expected to boast ball sponsors by the start of round two this weekend.
The Saints, who are servicing a $2.5 million debt, have generated $1 million in new business this season for a net improvement of $700,000.
Having struck a five-year deal worth more than $3 million to play two home games at York Park in Launceston each season, club president Rod Butterss said the Saints would not be applying for special assistance funding from the AFL.
With more than 19,000 members having signed on - 3500 ahead of this time last year - the level of supporter disenchantment has not been lost on the club as it puts its new financial structure into place.
"We've lost 20,000 members since 1997," Waldron admitted.
"They're the ones who haven't come back. If we could get back even half of those, it would be enormous for us," he said.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/31/1048962700259.html
Saints 'sell' coach's box for colour of money
By Caroline Wilson
April 01 2003
St Kilda has failed as yet to make any on-field impact in 2003 but the club's off-field fortunes have taken a colourful turn with the revelation of an innovative six-figure sponsorship agreement quite literally surrounding coach Grant Thomas.
The AFL has relented and allowed the Saints' coach's box at Telstra Dome to be painted a different colour at each of the club's eight home games this season as part of a $150,000 sponsorship deal with British Paints.
St Kilda's round-two home clash with Adelaide on Saturday will have the roof, front and sides of the coach's box covered in a substance designed by Dulux as part of the paint company's new campaign. Supporters will be asked to take part in selecting which colour will decorate the box at each game.
The AFL has insisted the Saints proceed with caution in their colour schemes. Pink is understood to be on the banned list.
"The AFL will have to approve the colour and obviously we wouldn't be doing anything too outrageous," said St Kilda chief executive Brian Waldron yesterday.
"We think it's unique and it's different and we've constantly been asked by the AFL to come up with something unique and different."
League commercial operations chief Ben Buckley admitted yesterday he was initially concerned at the prospect of recolouring the coach's box for each home game but allowed the deal to go ahead, given the financial extent of the new agreement.
"We need to be innovative," Buckley said. "But we need to make the broader point that we put the integrity of the game first."
While the Saints have endured a dismal, injury-plagued pre-season and disappointing round-one loss to the Kangaroos, the club's progress in turning around its financial plight has been encouraging.
St Kilda has also become the sixth club to announce a ball sponsor, with a further six-figure deal having been struck yesterday with internet recruitment company Seek.
At least eight AFL teams are expected to boast ball sponsors by the start of round two this weekend.
The Saints, who are servicing a $2.5 million debt, have generated $1 million in new business this season for a net improvement of $700,000.
Having struck a five-year deal worth more than $3 million to play two home games at York Park in Launceston each season, club president Rod Butterss said the Saints would not be applying for special assistance funding from the AFL.
With more than 19,000 members having signed on - 3500 ahead of this time last year - the level of supporter disenchantment has not been lost on the club as it puts its new financial structure into place.
"We've lost 20,000 members since 1997," Waldron admitted.
"They're the ones who haven't come back. If we could get back even half of those, it would be enormous for us," he said.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/31/1048962700259.html
