I read TFC gets $4M/yr from BMO for Uniform Sponsorship - not sure if that includes the stadium naming rights.
Why doesn't the CFL look at removing the front number and getting similar sponsorship? Obviously, it could make a HUGE difference.
Are you kidding?
Have you seen the reaction on this forum to putting team logos on the front of jerseys?
Purists seem to demand that only numbers go on the front of jerseys.
And why stop at jerseys?
Helmets perhaps?
Pants?
Where do you stop?
Do you really want this?
Completely against soccer styled jersey sponsorship or going the route of European hockey. However I'd like to see the league include the 2 patch jersey sponsors on authentic and replica jerseys that fans buy, that IMO would help bring in more revenue.
The uniform designer/supplier. Let Nike put their logo on, that kind of thing, but stop it at just the company that made and supplier the uniform. Set aside a specific spot for it so we know where it's going to be and it's not going to grow and fester like a bad infection.
Purists screamed like hell when they started to put advertising on the field, now we expect it to be there. The NHL has clear rules on where you can advertise and how much space it occupies on the ice I don't see why the same logic can't be applied to the uniform. It's a different economic world than it was 40 years ago and if the league is to survive they need to get creative. As long as they temper that creativity with the good of the game in mind advertising and uniforms can co-exist.
I don't think it will come to this but if the choice is between this and teams folding, I choose this.
Yes. A good post based on common sense. :thup:
How much more revenue? A couple thousand dollars? I disagree. It will make little difference. :thdn:
Dust : The picture of players with Capitalistic logos imprinted on players jerseys, does indeed represent the worst of capitalism. It can be an eyesore to view these capitalistic adds everywhere we go. To my dismay, there is more and more of this crap now on most internet sites. I think it was Winston Churchill who states something like " Capitalism can be a horrid brand of economic theory and practice but, its the best we have".
It is the worst part of watching the Spengler Cup.
With moderation of course, just like the current CFL jersey.
What I would like to see though is the league being aggressive and having a major corporation stepping up and sponsoring the Grey Cup with the minimum annual fee of $10M.
I think TFC's jerseys look terrific and it would bring in a ton of revenue.
I agree. The problem... The purist will say "No" or if they do say "Yes", it can only be "The Grey Cup brought to you by ABC" instead of the "ABC Grey Cup" - which would bring in more money. Sometimes I think the purist are the worst thing that ever happened to this league - they hold us back.
It's the Grey Cup. It's a part of the league history. It was named after the man who donated the trophy The Earl Grey. I don't mind sponsorship but it's disrespectful and greedy to change the name. As a veteran it pains me every Spring to have to hear and see the (insert sponsor here) Memorial Cup. Now the Grey Cup was not named in the same fashion but I still think it is disrespectful to the history of the trophy to change it's name. "The Grey Cup sponsored by..." or something of the sort. There are a lot of ways to generate revenue. There's discussion about jersey ads in another thread. I don't think it's too much to ask to leave the trophy as one spot not for sale. This is not the NFL, NBA or MLB where most fans could even tell you what the trophy's name is and the trophy doesn't have the history of the Grey Cup.
Advertising revenue is one of the best things to happen to professional sports, but if people don't think of the game, it's history and traditions in conjunction with advertising decisions then it becomes purely about the money. Everyone has to realize that in today's economy sports doesn't exist without advertising revenue and advertisers need to remember that without the sport they have no audience for their ads. They need the CFL as much as the CFL needs advertisers.
Unfortunately, I disagree, DC. There are a ton of options for sponsors (more than ever) and we have to be willing to do what it takes to maximize dollars. At the end of the day, it is just a trophy (blasphemy, I know) and to see it as something more than that is holding us back.
If the choice is between putting a quality name on a trophy (The Bell Grey Cup) and having 9 healthy teams, it isn't much of a choice at all.
Each patch currently brings in $500,000, one would think that would jump up if replicas etc also had them.
The problem... each additional patch would bring in less and less. Replacing the front number with one big sponsor (like TFC) would bring in far more money and look cleaner. I say do it!
Agreed. Although $10 million for the Grey Cup is almost impossible (unless they attach a whole lot more to the sponsorship package
Unfortunately, I disagree, DC. There are a ton of options for sponsors (more than ever) and we have to be willing to do what it takes to maximize dollars. At the end of the day, it is just a trophy (blasphemy, I know) and to see it as something more than that is holding us back.
If the choice is between putting a quality name on a trophy (The Bell Grey Cup) and having 9 healthy teams, it isn't much of a choice at all.
[/quote]
One way to keep the history and to keep "The Grey Cup" is to use the term "Presented By AT&T" (AT&T just an example). This way it is still the Grey Cup, not AT&T Grey Cup, and it is presented to the people by AT&T. In addition to the game sponsorship revenue it keeps the door open for media revenue and allows the media to show whatever commercials they want.
This same methodology could be used for the playoff games, it is a revenue producer without the perception of program ownership.
Just a concept since I have no idea how the CFL, TSN and current sponsorship is currently formulated.
I have no problem with that. Keep the name of the trophy. Yes you can sponsor it, but I feel selling the name of the trophy (like stadiums) is going to far. Why not go all the way and sell the whole thing; "Welcome to Tim Horton's Field for the 2015 Burger King Cup between the Montreal St Hubert's and the Edmonton Suncor."
KR, I understand your argument, but mine is that we need to have advertising coexist with the game rather than own the game. And to use your own words "If the choice is between putting a quality name on a trophy (The Bell Grey Cup) and having 9 healthy teams then we are at a point where the league is about to go under and selling the trophy name is not going to save it. What is so wrong with compromise? This one thing is off limits, everything else we will discuss.
I guess we will have to agree to disagree, my friend. 
dcmoses,
I fully agree the game and the trophy is the Grey Cup, no company name on the trophy. This "presented by" methodology is used by many NCAA Bowl games. The Orange Bowl will always be the Orange Bowl, but could be "presented by" a different company every year or it could be a multi year contract. "Presented by" could include: cash distributed as CFL sees fit, pregame festivity costs i.e. military fly over, half time show costs, fireworks, advertising costs leading up to the game. Taking the above into account, if the overall game is improved would you, the fan, buy from this company or a competitor?
I don't think your following my line of thinking good sir.
An example................. As of right now NAPA and Investors Group have 1 patch each on the Bombers uniforms, what I'm proposing is that each fan bought jersey would include those same two. Which I'm of a belief would bring in more revenue not less.
Theoretically if the CFL or any league for that matter went to soccer styled sponsorship, it would undoubtedly bring in a lot more revenue. The NBA has been thinking about it for a decade now, however there's a reason why it's not being done as of yet. Have no idea what that reason or reasons are, but that's where we're at.