Hollis Sponsorship Bulletin

The Official Beer of the England Cricket team, Marston’s Pedigree, has just unveiled a new series of ads ready for the start of the first test match of the Ashes. 
The tongue-in-cheek ‘England has it campaign’, continues to focus on Pedigree’s heritage to deliver lines that the brand hopes will kick start the banter ahead of the first test in Brisbane.  Marketing manager Des Gallagher said: “As a long standing supporter of English Cricket we wanted to put together another campaign that really stokes the fires and gets people behind England and engaged with the series from the start. And with the Ashes taking place down under, providing a unique free on-demand service is important to keep the
The ads will launch in the Telegraph Sport on the 24th of November as part of a deal which sees Simon Hughes travel out to Australia to provide daily ‘Marston’s Pedigree Ashes Updates’ on Telegraph TV throughout the five test series.

Menswear retailer T.M.Lewin has signed a three-year contract to become the official formal wear supplier to the England cricket team, the ECB announced today.  As part of the sponsorship agreement T.M.Lewin will provide each member of the England squad with the navy Borough suit from its Red Label Collection, classic Windsor slim fit shirts and a panama weave silk tie.
In return, T.M.Lewin will receive a range of commercial assets that include access to England cricketers for promotional and media purposes, exclusive behind the scenes video content of the England cricket team for use on T.M.Lewin’s community website, international tickets, in-stadia advertising, use of team photography and England cricket team lock-up logo.
Geoff Quinn, CEO of T.M.Lewin said “England Cricket is a fitting association for us as it underlines our core brand values of heritage, quality and English tradition.”

Buxton Natural Mineral Water has signed a two-year extension to remain the Official Water Supplier to the England cricket team until the end of the 2011 international summer season.

As part of the renewal Buxton, who first became an ECB partner in 2008, will be the exclusive supplier of bottled water to the England cricket team for all its home international matches. In return, Buxton will receive a  range of commercial assets that includes access to England cricketers for promotional purposes, specific branding opportunities around the England cricket team, in-stadia advertising and a variety of rights across England’s fan community, TwelfthMan.

On announcing the two-year sponsorship extension Nick Moore, ECB Head of Sales said: “Buxton has been an excellent partner that has helped raise the profile of the England cricket team through its nationwide in-store marketing activity.”

Rebecca White, Head of Marketing for Buxton said: “Since we started the sponsorship, cricket has been a great platform to promote Buxton, with activities ranging from a limited edition cricket on-pack promotions to being part of last year’s ‘Cricket in the Park’ event. Retailers have been very supportive of our plans and further promotions are scheduled to support the Ashes again later in the year.”

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has signed Jaguar as its Official Vehicle supplier of the England Cricket Team. The partnership, which will last for an initial four year period, will see England’s centrally contracted cricketers drive Jaguar’s XJ, XK or XF models.
 
As part of this announcement Jaguar will also form a strategic partnership with the ECB’s National Cricket Performance Centre. This association will form part of Jaguar’s long term commitment to British Sport under the umbrella of the ‘Jaguar Academy of Sport’ which aims to recognise, celebrate and inspire the very best of British sporting talent and success.
 
In return Jaguar will benefit from a range of commercial rights that includes use of the England players for promotional appearances, international hospitality packages, the option to purchase international tickets, international programme advertising and signed merchandise.
 
Jaguar, which has long-standing ambassador associations with a number of high profile cricketers, will also form two additional partnerships with the Professional Cricketers Association and the UK’s Test match venues.
 
The Test match venues partnership, which was brokered by The Essentially Group, will provide Jaguar with in-stadia branding and exclusive opportunities to showcase its cars across all international venues.
 
Geoff Cousins, Jaguar UK managing director, said: “This new partnership is one of the pillars of our sports marketing programme. It is part of our long term commitment to British sport under the umbrella of the recently launched Jaguar Academy of Sport, which aims to recognise, celebrate and inspire the very best of British sporting talent and success.”

ECB Chairman Giles Clarke this weekend paid tribute to Vodafone for its 12-year sponsorship of the England cricket team, which concluded at the end of the 4^th Test Match against South Africa.

The partnership, which began with England’s tour of the West Indies in 1998, has encompassed a period of significant achievement by the team including two Ashes wins in 2005 and 2009 and Test series wins abroad in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, New Zealand and the West Indies.

Mr Clarke, who hosted a special thanksgiving dinner attended by representatives of Vodafone in Johannesburg, added: “We are extremely grateful to Vodafone for their unstinting support for the England team over the past 12 years.  The partnership has been one of the longest enjoyed by any team sport in the UK and it has brought enormous benefits to the wider game throughout England and Wales.”