A joint statement that read like this would be more apt:-

"The RFL realize they made a up big style in taking on this deal and now they will pursue a new deal that actually involves some money because financially the game is on its ".

Too much sugar coating in that statement but Stobart's statement should be along the following lines ' We have taken the RFL for a ride and got free sponsorship for a year. We knew they were gullible but not this much. All we had to do was put a few stickers on a few of our trucks and we got free advertising on Sky TV. Which other sport in the world could we have done that too? Oh well it was funny while it lasted. PS Oh yeah good luck to the RFL for their future sponsorship deals. I've heard Disney are looking to promote Mickey Mouse and there would be no better company than the RFL to be partners with'

I know we can only dream of association with such big names in the business sector but I'd love to see 'The Hedgehog Gutter Brush Super League'!

I was just idly Googling to find out who the Official Beer of Super League was, with a view to seeing how they sounded as title sponsors. Turns out we don't have one....

Irn Bru Super League maybe? The Irn Bruper League!

I passed the Wildcats Stobart truck just outside Bristol the other day, where I think they should be, if they were just running along the M60/M62 then they wouldn't really be accomplishing much. I think we should be looking for a sponsor that would encourage people outside of Yorks/Lancs Cumbria. I don't think Beer and bookies are the best choice as I don't think they really in the markets that we should aim for.

Yawnion with its lower aggregate attendance and lower TV figures still manages to have a load of money from sponsorships, probably because they attract sponsors like Insurance companies .

Also it would be nice if the BBC had run a story on this wouldn't it?

Oh give over. I think they have a slightly bigger event going on right now?

Also, I've no idea who will take over but that only builds the excitement before the slating begins.

They may attract fewer people, but those people have greater spending power and disposable income, and they are the kinds of people companies want to advertise to.

My [url=http://littlegrubbers.blogspot.com/2012/07/a-modest-proposal.htmlmodest proposal[/url for Super League

For me the main thing is that we partner a 'household name'. Stobart was perfect but for a deal like this to be cut after only 1 year rings a few alarm bells.

The increased viewing figures are great - and a real reason for celebration. But let's not kid ourselves they can in any way be attributed to the Stobart deal. A deal so bad, it's almost funny.

Yes, it looks like we've come out of it no real damage done, and in a good position to attract another sponsor. But from a commercial perspective - and somebody in marketing has already mentioned this further up the thread - we've shot ourselves in the foot with this particular 'innovation'. What's worse it that the RFL know this, and are treating us - the fans - with outright contempt, suggesting it was all somehow in their strategy, and has worked out just brilliantly(?!)

Whoever the Commercial team are at the RFL certainly need their performance reviewed. We know RL is a hard sell guys, but how can you feasibly walk into negotiations with any major firm and flog them sponsorship rights for our wonderful, fast-growing, exciting competition, when only a few months ago you valued those same rights at virtually nothing?

If the Stobart deal was part of a wider more structured suit of sponsors, it'd be one thing. But it isn't, and the RFL have backed themselves into a right old corner. They have in effect devalued their own product over the course of the last few years, to the extent that our existing deals with 'Elonex', 'Irn Bru' and 'Heinz BIG Soup' represent our strongest commercial support.

For all the spin the RFL put on how innovative they are, the current situation demonstrates nothing but a complete lack of commercial nous. I mean, how much was the Stobart deal even worth? You couldn't even measure it if it were successful - or know exactly the impact it has had. That, as anybody in this line of work knows, is the basics.

wern't bet365 after the rights along with Stobart? Will they still be interested after that snub?

The clubs may have to forget their 'morals' and take the bookies cash, because there aren't many other sectors who will be open to spending a nice sum on naming rights.

This fella's about right, IMO - [urlhttp://littlegrubbers.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/a-modest-proposal.html[/url

IIRC it was BetFair, and they put that money into the Darts instead.

Err, not sure that Union has lower figures in terms of crowds or TV as well....

I was just responding to someone's claims. But I'm sure SL gets better TV figures than the union thing.

think you're right, I was under the impression that Super League has the highest TV figures for a domestic league in the UK after football, well ahead of Union and county cricket.

At any rate, regarding Stobart- we tried it, it didn't work, let's go again. Carling/Molson Coors must be looking to sponsor something after losing the S*** Beer Cup, and they must have some dosh.

Every sport claims to be the 2nd behind football it seems. The key is the sponsors of union obviously feel that advertising with them attracts the audience who would use their product. It's not how many watch, but how many of those you target watch.

True. I think a lot of advertisers believe that union has a) mass appeal (which I'm not sure it truly does) and links to the law, the City etc. (which I think have weakened hugely). And assume that RL has an entirely working-class profile. I'm not sure that either stereotype has ever been 100% true, but I'm certain that they aren't now.

I'm still convinced that this country's number two sport is cricket.

Unions Premiership is on ESPN isn't it? Hardly surprising then that it rates horribly. As for crowds, the poster who brought them up said aggregate...not average. Given the Union comp is 2 teams less and they don't have a Magic weekend, then it's not surprising League gets more in attendance given they have 5 extra games a season, 2 at home each....although I think it might be a very close run thing...given they have double headers and the wembley thing.

Back on topic....
[urlhttp://www.aviva.co.uk/media-centre/story/7399/aviva-becomes-new-sponsor-of-world-leading-domesti/[/url
20 million over 4 years........that's where the benchmark is.

Alternatively ..

If you want to get yourself loads of free publicity in the RL community just tell the RFL that you are interested in bailing the Bulls out of the situation they are currently in .
String them along for a few weeks whilst making impossible demands . Make sure your demands are tempting enough for them to spend time taking a serious look at them , but so ludicrous that they have to refuse them but still leave it looking to the general public like you were serious . Hey presto . You now have a curry house full of very grateful but gullible people wearing Bulls shirts .

It could work .

Got to say, this is quite baffling, surely for this to work it needed a 3/4 year run, unless of course the trailers continue to be used until their normal ' life span ' expires?

I would be happy with 10 million over 4 years for Rugby League, but its not going to happen. Perhaps 10 million over 5 years would be bad might be slighty easier to get.

I saw my first one last week