$1 million boost for Tigers as major sponsor re-signsMark Hawthorne
The Age/SMH
12 September 2016The challenge to Richmond's board looks like fizzing out before a vote is taken. Not only has the club secured Neil Balme as general manager of football, but the Tigers have received a timely $1 million boost after Bingle agreed to extend its six-year uniform sponsorship of the club.
The Balme signing has taken the wind out the of sails of the rival "Focus on Football" ticket, which is trying to remove president Peggy O'Neal and her fellow directors.
Now insurance giant Suncorp confirmed that its Bingle brand will continue to sponsor the Tigers in 2017, ending months of negotiations. Bingle has been co-major sponsor of Richmond along with US car giant Jeep. Its contract expires in November, after six years on the back of the Tigers guernsey.
"Bingle is a proud sponsor of the Richmond Football Club and will continue to be for 2017 AFL season," said Suncorp spokesman Jake Krausmann.
Asked if the turmoil at the Tigers had played any role in Suncorp's decision, Krausmann replied: "This is entirely a matter for the club and has no impact on our ongoing support."
Bingle's decision secures Richmond's two key sponsors for the 2017 season. Jeep has one more season to go as the key uniform sponsor of the Tigers. That deal is worth an estimated $1.2 million a year.
Bingle's announcement is timely for Richmond's power brokers, coming just a week after the launch of the "Focus on Football" ticket, which aims to dislodge O'Neal and her board.
Club chief executive Brendon Gale has been working on a review of the club's football department, as well as overseeing commercial negotiations.
"We have had a strong relationship with Suncorp over a long period of time and we are pleased Bingle will remain a major sponsor in 2017," Gale said. "We look forward to retaining that relationship beyond that time."
Bingle's commitment to the Tigers for 2017 still leaves a number of second- and third-tier deals to be negotiated by the club.
Superannuation giant HostPlus has extended its sponsorship of Richmond's much-depleted coaching department through to the end of 2018, but shorts sponsor Decor is out of contract in November. That deal is estimated at $350,000 a season.
Other contracts that end in November include gold-level partners AGL and Viagogo, which both pay an estimated $250,000 a year to the Tigers.
The club is also working hard to re-engage with Fiat Chrysler Australia, which owns Jeep, after a number of executive changes at the car company.
Jeep's initial sponsorship deal with the Tigers was signed by former managing director Clyde Campbell, and was re-signed by his successor Veronica Johns. Both are embroiled in a bitter legal dispute with FCA.
Former FCA Asia Pacific boss John Kett - who ultimately signed off on the Richmond deal - quit FCA in July last year, after details of the Campbell litigation made headlines.
Kett is a passionate Tigers supporter and was awarded life membership of the club in the wake of the Jeep deal.
Last month Melbourne-born Steve Zanlunghi was appointed the new boss of FCA. He refused to answer questions on the future of the Richmond sponsorship, but company insiders said it was "likely" to extend beyond 2017 as it had been a "strong and successful relationship".
http://www.smh.com.au/afl/richmond-tigers/1-million-boost-for-richmond-tigers-as-bingle-signs-on-for-another-season-20160912-grebu1.html
