David Schuman’s Post

Twickenham is no more as Allianz takes over naming rights?!?! I'm sorry but this is possibly one of the worst sponsorship decisions I've ever seen, even (more so!) for Allianz! Twickenham is iconic: "HQ", "the home of rugby", it's the world's biggest rugby stadium, a historic ground that goes back well over 100 years. It's a name known not just throughout English or even world rugby, but throughout the population. A day at Twickenham is an experience that appeals to casual sports fans and even those who aren't into sport. There's endless invaluable brand value and recognition tied up in that. There are numerous Allianz stadiums already. Rugby desperately needs to bring corporate money in to save the sport we love, as it struggles more than ever with financial pressures. But a corporation having the arrogance to use that desperation to insist on erasing a name that is at the heart of English rugby really feels like holding the RFU over a barrel. It screams disrespect and feels grubby from Allianz Insurance. The arrogance and short-sightedness of "our terms or stick it" aggression (which feels like it's not doing much to rehabilitate the perception of the finance sector either). I know brands need to feel they're getting the max ROI for their money. However, I would have liked to have thought a company of Allianz 's size and experience in sports sponsorship would have a little more imagination and PR sense in how to do that appropriately, understanding the culture of the sport you are shoehorning yourself into. Obviously no one will ever ever ever use the phrase "Allianz stadium", apart from the media who will be contractually obliged to (and no doubt will be washing their mouths out with bleach immediately afterwards) so it's hard to really see what they're gaining from kicking off a major sponsorship deal by having hundreds of thousands of fans hating them. I'm not against naming rights in sport at all - it's been an essential lifeline for many clubs across different sports - but it needs to respect the history of the ground when that's significant. In those circumstances, adding a brand name onto an existing name, at most. "Allianz Twickenham" would have worked better and even given extra value to Allianz through the direct word association with the Twickenham brand qualities - history, credibility, quality. It's ironic that Allianz, while claiming to have the community and grassroots of rugby as it's priority, is demonstrating that it actually has no understanding or respect for the game at all and a focus on nothing but their leadership's ego. There was an opportunity here for Allianz to be praised as a saviour of English rugby, instead, I'm seeing rugby fans saying "anyone but Allianz" as a result of this. What a way to make sure your big deal gets tackled to the ground before it's anywhere near the try line! #sponsorship #sport #sportsponsorship #Twickenham #Allianz #AllianzInsurance England Rugby

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Cutting Costs for parents wanting to take it to the next level AAU basketball/training/development is getting more difficult to find Court Space. OTX Becomers is hoping to try like some booster clubs, bake sales sponsorships or ??????? First find affordable court space!

As Wales vs Scotland go head-to-head in the opening weekend of the Six Nations rugby tournament, our Welsh Head of Fund Selection, Kamal Warraich, assesses the chances of a young and inexperienced Welsh team as they face the Scots at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Kamal also muses the parallels between rugby and portfolio management and why Dan Carter the legendary All Black would make a good fund manager. https://ow.ly/WzPw50QxbT6 Investment involves risk, and you may not get back what you invest. It’s not suitable for everyone. #investing #sixnations

Why Hasn't the WNBA Made a Profit? Unveiling the Truth Discover the surprising truth about the WNBA's lack of profits. Join us as we delve into the reasons behind this phenomenon and analyze the challenges faced by the league. #WNBAProfit #WomenInSports #SportsBusiness #FeminismInTheSportsIndustry #EqualityInSports #ProfessionalBasketball #WNBAChallenges #SportsMarketing #WomenEmpowerment #GenderPayGap

Swimming is in the way as well

What makes Gold Cards & Gold Tickets so valuable? They give back. Not only to supporters, but to your favorite local & national businesses, too. Dive into today’s blog post to read about best-selling Gold Athletics discount products: https://ow.ly/zYrR50QuQme #SupportSmallBusiness #smallbutmighty #highschoolfundraising #youthfundraising #DiscountCards

Read the latest on our football sponsorering.

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On the blog 📰 Supporting regional athletes – Mia Harvey We believe all athletes deserve a chance to shine, regardless of location. Read how we're supporting Mia Harvey in her basketball journey, and why we believe in the power of sponsorships for regional athletes: https://lnkd.in/gYbx3S3j