We like the sponsors, but...

[Dick Rockett]

Is anyone getting tired of the commercialism that is taking over cricket? Or even sport in general? I know the sponsors are crucial to the survival of the game, but now it's getting ridiculous.

In NZ, we had the TelstraClear Black Caps. What happened to playing for good old New Zealand?

What happened to the Plunket Shield? Some of the posters on this forum have probably never even heard of it. What about the Sheffield Shield? Where's the motivation in playing for a little plastic meeting-room trinket? Has anyone seen the State Shield?

Noticed how many State logos are on the One Day uniforms of the provincial players? Or the fact that you can't play for Wellington/Auckland, etc. It has to be the State Wellington Firebirds/State Auckland Aces.

The whole game's being turned into a commodity, the teams into brands, the players into products. The whole thing's becoming so sterile it may soon become non-apparent who to cheer for.

Is this happening to the same extent throughout the cricketing world?

Sorry if this sounds like a rant - this is probably my biggest bugbear in cricket today. Maybe it's 'cause I can remember when it wasn't like this!

 

[Jono]

I totally agree, ironically during the Australian Open Tennis tournament I had this same discussion with my dad. I know the sponsors are required for cricket and sport in general, but come on. They shove it in our face all the time. There is no better example than this...

Retravision Warriors.

Most ridiculous name for a cricket team I've ever seen. Yes I know they represent Western Australia but corporate advertising has gone too far.

Great post, something different to discuss about rather than regular topics in cricket. Kudos.

 

[Linda]

Yeah, all the Aussie state teams are sponser named now. XXXX Bulls (which I find hilarious, makes them sound like some sort of adult movie), Speedblitz Blues, Retravision Warriors, ect.
And yeah, its crap, but its just going to get worse, and if we didnt have it, it wouldnt survive. The WACA is going broke because of it.

 

[FRAZ]

Yeah, all the Aussie state teams are sponser named now. XXXX Bulls (which I find hilarious, makes them sound like some sort of adult movie), Speedblitz Blues, Retravision Warriors, ect.
And yeah, its crap, but its just going to get worse, and if we didnt have it, it wouldnt survive. The WACA is going broke because of it.

GOOD FINDINGS. Facts and figures you showed are quite touching.........

 

[Mister Wright]

Well boo hoo...

The Australian domestic cricket structure was in danger of collapsing due to not having near enough money. There were no crowds and therefore no money. The only domestic television coverage which was barely giving the game some revenue was collapsing as Optus went under. I can't speak for the other competitions but without Pura Milk we would not have such a strong and expanded competition as we do today. Until Pura Milk and ING came on board there were only 6 One day games played between the state sides - now there are 10. So if the teams have to have a sponsored name, so be it, I would rather that then no cricket at all.

Keep in mind the teams have to rent the huge stadiums they play at, they have to travel their teams all around the country and pay all the players. The cannot survive on subsidies from CA for all of it.

 

[Richard]

I always thought there was some affilitation between cricket state associations and rules-football associations?
Like I heard there is in New Zealand with the rugby.

 

[Mister Wright]

I always thought there was some affilitation between cricket state associations and rules-football associations?
Like I heard there is in New Zealand with the rugby.

What, in Australia?

I know at the 'Gabba the Bulls & the Lions have an agreement but they both still have to pay rent to the owners, whether it is the Goverment or a private owner I'm not sure, but they still have to pay to use the ground.

 

[Richard]

Yeah, I meant in Australia.
Who owns Adelaide Oval, The MCG, The SCG, The WACA and Bellerive, then?
Anyone have a better idea than me or Kyle?

 

[V Reddy]

IMO, i don't like it but it's necessary

 

[Langeveldt]

I dont have too much of a problem with it.. I mean these guys are ploughing money into the game, so let them have their moneys worth!

As long as the names dont get severely tacky ( I cant wait until the Durham Dynamos play at the Brit Oval)... then its all well and good!!

I wouldnt have a problem with supporting the Nashua Titans, because they would be a richer, more competitive body than Northerns Cricket Union.....

 

[Dick Rockett]

Certainly I appreciate the contribution of the sponsors, and am extremely aware that the game couldn't survive without them, but surely there's some middle ground to be found here? If anything the way things are makes me resent them and not want to try their products.

For example, at the "State" of Origin (coincidence?) game, the players each had 8 State logos on their kit, there was one on each of the stumps, the umps were wearing some, there was signage around the ground, and most ad breaks between overs contained promos for State. I get it guys! You're the sponsors. Take it easy, jeez. :rolleyes:

 

[Langeveldt]

Certainly I appreciate the contribution of the sponsors, and am extremely aware that the game couldn't survive without them, but surely there's some middle ground to be found here? If anything the way things are makes me resent them and not want to try their products.

For example, at the "State" of Origin (coincidence?) game, the players each had 8 State logos on their kit, there was one on each of the stumps, the umps were wearing some, there was signage around the ground, and most ad breaks between overs contained promos for State. I get it guys! You're the sponsors. Take it easy, jeez. :rolleyes:

Lol I get you...

You should try South Africa... !! Absolutely insane...

 

[Mister Wright]

Certainly I appreciate the contribution of the sponsors, and am extremely aware that the game couldn't survive without them, but surely there's some middle ground to be found here? If anything the way things are makes me resent them and not want to try their products.

For example, at the "State" of Origin (coincidence?) game, the players each had 8 State logos on their kit, there was one on each of the stumps, the umps were wearing some, there was signage around the ground, and most ad breaks between overs contained promos for State. I get it guys! You're the sponsors. Take it easy, jeez. :rolleyes:

Trust me...if you are a sponsor and you've just paid upwards of thousands of dollars, you want to get as much exposure as you can. So what if you have to put up with a few boring ads, big deal - better cricket with heaps of advers than no cricket at all.

The only thing I don't agree with is sponsorship on the sight-screens. Sometimes they mess up and cause a stoppage in the game. Although it is probably done deliberately so the sponsors can get extra free time.

 

[Craig]

Yeah, I meant in Australia.
Who owns Adelaide Oval, The MCG, The SCG, The WACA and Bellerive, then?
Anyone have a better idea than me or Kyle?

Probably the Government or State Cricket boards.

 

[Linda]

HAHAHAHAHA , GOOD FINDINGS. Facts and figures you showed are quite touching.........

What in the heck are you talking about?

 

[FRAZ]

What in the heck are you talking about?

Nothing special , Just read it , Found striking to ears, Cuz XXXX Bull is a third class cheap beer available here which every one says it sounds like a lotion to be used in the shooting of an adult movie . SO quite a familiar resemblance you gave .

 

[Linda]

Ok.:P
XXXX is a beer here too, made in Qld I beleive...? Anyway it still makes me laugh.

 

[FRAZ]

Ok.:P
XXXX is a beer here too, made in Qld I beleive...? Anyway it still makes me laugh.

Anyways I removed hahahaha from my first reply . :P

 

[Jono]

I still feeling changing the state team's name was quite silly, that doesn't mean I don't appreciate what the sponsors do for the game, but when a cricketer plays first class cricket they play for Western Australia, not Retravision. Same with for Queensland, not XXXX.

 

[Mister Wright]

I still feeling changing the state team's name was quite silly, that doesn't mean I don't appreciate what the sponsors do for the game, but when a cricketer plays first class cricket they play for Western Australia, not Retravision. Same with for Queensland, not XXXX.

Depends which players you talk to...Trevor Barsby was offered by XXXX in Queensland's first shield final if he scored a century he would get a year's supply of XXXX beer (a carton a week). Guess what he did?...