Fusion Sponsorship clinches Ryder Cup Wales 2010 deal
Winning Formula for Business and Golf
9 May 2008
Fusion Sponsorship is celebrating the renewal of its contract with Ryder Cup Wales 2010 Ltd having raised £1 million for the organisation from Welsh-based businesses through the formation of the Ryder Cup Wales Corporate Club. The contract will run until October 2010, which coincides with Fusion's 10th anniversary.
The Club boasts 40 members - all Welsh businesses - and was created by Fusion Sponsorship in 2006 to provide a platform for the business community to support and benefit from The 2010 Ryder Cup. It is the first time that such a club has been established by a host nation in conjunction with the world-class event and delivers a package of benefits to companies both large and small.
Victoria Ward, Managing Director, Fusion Sponsorship explained: "Back in 2004, we won a tender to undertake a feasibility study on behalf of Ryder Cup Wales 2010 Ltd to identify sponsorship channels. The goal was to raise £1 million plus to support the event budget and thus relieve pressure on the public purse. At the same time, the sponsorship programme had to deliver tangible business benefits back to the corporate community in Wales, using the opportunities on offer through the Ryder Cup tie-up.
"We looked at traditional sponsorship packages, but recommended that the benefits of association with Ryder Cup Wales be spread across the business community instead of focussing on one or two large companies. To this end, we created a unique three-tier business club – platinum, gold, member – offering members a range of affordable benefits including use of the Ryder Cup Wales logo on selected marketing materials to tickets and hospitality at The 2008 Ryder Cup in Kentucky and at The Celtic Manor Resort in 2010. These benefits can be used to incentivise consumer purchase, reward a salesforce or for business networking. Our goal has been to make a Ryder Cup association affordable for Welsh SME’s."
The £1m target was achieved by October 2007 and today, the Ryder Cup Wales Corporate Club comprises 40 companies – from Coca-Cola Enterprises and Admiral Insurance, S4C and BBC to smaller companies such as Asbri Golf and Penderyn Distillery.
Rob Holt, Chief Executive, Ryder Cup Wales 2010 Ltd, commented: "We are delighted to welcome so many businesses to our unique Corporate Club and will work with them to make their association a success. We have extended our contract with Fusion Sponsorship for a further two years to ensure continuity with our business partners and to maximise further sponsorship opportunities. We have been delighted with their results and their success alone illustrates how Welsh companies can benefit from the Ryder Cup coming to Wales in 2010."