sponsorship OPPORTUNITIES

Transcription

1 sponsorship OPPORTUNITIES

2 The Glendale Raptors Rugby Football Club has been one of the nation s flagship rugby organizations, both on and off the field, for over a decade. Sponsorship at Infinity Park is an exceptional opportunity to reach the existing and robust rugby fan base, as well as the legions of future fans that make rugby the fastest growing team sport in the U.S. Beginning in the Spring of 2018, the Raptors moniker will earn new acclaim as the Men s Elite Raptors team enters Major League Rugby as a founding member team. Major League Rugby (MLR) will become the crown jewel atop the USA Rugby domestic participation pyramid, providing a focal point for fans, an aspirational goal for young players, and opportunities for businesses and sponsors to further engage with the sport. Sponsorship at Infinity Park isn t just about Raptors rugby, however. Glendale is also home to five amateur rugby clubs playing under the Glendale Merlins moniker, and Infinity Park hosts the international RugbyTown 7s tournament annually. Alongside summer movie nights and an annual Beer festival, sponsorship opportunities abound. Infinity Park is a robust and flourishing organization. Celebrating ten years since their establishment and multiple national titles, the Glendale Raptors are building upon an already impressive history of distinction. Sponsorship not only offers a substantial return on investment, but also the opportunity to share in Glendale s ongoing growth and prosperity. table of contents 3 WELCOME TO GLENDALE 4 THIS IS RUGBY 5 FAN DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION 6 WE ARE GLENDALE RAPTORS 7 GLENDALE RAPTORS SPONSORSHIP 8 WE ARE GLENDALE MERLINS 9 GLENDALE MERLINS SPONSORSHIP 10 THIS IS INFINITY PARK 11 MONDAY MOVIE MADNESS SPONSORSHIP 12 RUGBYTOWN 7S SPONSORSHIP 13 BEERFEST SPONSORSHIP Best Regards, Diana Anderson Director of Marketing and Sponsorships Infinity Park

3 welcome to GLENDALE Today s Glendale, with Infinity Park at its heart, began in 2005 with a bold plan from city leaders: the future of the city would be built around rugby. When this plan was conceived, rugby in the U.S. was one of the sporting world s best-kept secrets. More than a decade later, that secret is out: today over a million Americans play rugby, with many more following as fans. Glendale s hand in that growth is undeniable, and is an example of what thoughtful, inspired public-private partnerships can accomplish. The result of this partnership is what we call RugbyTown USA. It s more than a name, more than the buzz on game day. It s more than the verdant grass on the pitch, than the glittering ballroom floor, more than the weight room or the thrill of victory. RugbyTown USA is about character the teamwork that embodies rugby s tough-yet-elegant ethos. It s shared experience, execution, and excellence. It s who we are. Just southeast of downtown Denver, Glendale s 16-acre Infinity Park is a cultural cornerstone for Coloradans up and down the Front Range. The multi-use, indoor-outdoor hub boasts the first rugby-specific stadium in the country. Beyond rugby, Infinity Park is woven into the very fabric of Colorado, not simply as an event space or fitness Mecca, but as a place where community can coalesce and interact marrying fitness, fun, and culture for Coloradans of all ages. Infinity Park is not just the epicenter of rugby in Colorado, it s a nationally recognized rugby nerve center. The Glendale Raptors men s team will enter the nation s professional rugby league, Major League Rugby, in 2018 building upon an already impressive history as one of the top performing clubs in the US. As the name suggests, the possibilities here are truly limitless.

4 this is RUGBY In 1823 during a game of school football in the town of Rugby, a young man named William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran towards the oppositions goal line, creating the distinctive feature of the game. 194 years later, rugby has evolved into the second most popular sport in the world, played by 7.3 million men, women, boys and girls. first played in 1875, Boston-McGill vs Harvard USA Rugby is the governing body of rugby USA won gold in the 1920 & 1924 Olympics 7s rugby included in the Rio 2016 Olympics Las Vegas is the host city on the HSBC 7s circuit host of the 2018 Rugby World Cup 7s over 2,500 amateur rugby clubs fastest growing sport in the United States 350% growth in rugby participation since million kids in the USA play rugby fastest growing team sport in the USA 40 million consider themselves to be rugby fans in 2018 Major League Rugby will launch it s first season of professional rugby in the USA with 7 teams to start and League expansion in 2019.

5 about rugby FANS Rugby fan base increased by 14% from ; every other sport was stagnant or declined Rugby s return to the Olympics drew at least 16.8 million new fans Rugby participation increased 350% between Annual participation growth of 13% year over year between million consider themselves to be rugby fans: 55% (22 million) of those are millennial (ages 18-34) 67% (27 million) have children under 18 64% are college educated 29% have household income over $100k Rugby fans are spread relatively evenly across the age groups with the exception of year-olds which account for 13% of rugby supporters Interest in rugby is identical between the genders Rugby fandom has risen 14% over the last 3 years Rugby fans are trend setters 97% more than the general population Rugby fans are brand loyal 22% more than the general population Rugby fans are interested - 72% more likely to purchase a partner company s products or services

6 we are GLENDALE RAPTORS Glendale s Infinity Park is a stronghold for rugby in the United States. Promoting local engagement and participation, the Raptors club builds on its established support and encourages Glendale, as well as the broader American audience, to experience the unique and vibrant rugby community. Utilizing an existing foundation of excellence on and off the field, the Raptors will join the nation s professional rugby league - Major League Rugby - in Rugby s international presence is enormous, and by stitching together the local with the national, the national with the global, the Glendale Raptors are more than just a club the Raptors are the embodiment of the Rugby Family; an inspirational, character-driven model of sport and athleticism, teamwork and diversity, participation and community. From their home at Infinity Park, the Raptors provide a focal point for fans, aspiration for young players, and opportunities for businesses to engage with the sport. Anticipated 2018 Spring Season: March - July: 8 match season* + 2 pre-season matches Pre-season promotions will begin in January 2018 In-season promotions run March - July 2018 Post-season promotions will run July - December Projections: Attendance - 15,000 Live stream webcast viewership - 180,000 Video on demand viewership - 20,000 *subject to change

7 GLENDALE RAPTORS sponsorship Sponsorship levels starting at $25,000 for Inaugural Spring Season Advertising rates available BRAND RECOGNITION Logo inclusion Signage Webcast live stream HD digital screen and ribbon display Naming rights Kit sponsorship Media exposure IN STADIUM ACTIVATION On-site opportunities Logo recognition on pitch Presenting sponsor of stadium activities Presenting sponsor of game day elements ( brought to you by... ) Complimentary tickets to Glendale Raptors regular season home matches DIGITAL PROMOTIONS & ADVERTISING inclusion Website advertisements Social media exposure Presenting sponsor of video elements Webcast advertisements Ticketing advertisements

8 we are GLENDALE MERLINS January - June Men s Division 1 & 2; U20s Women s Division 1 August - November Women s Premier League Match promotions are run year-round 2018 Projections Attendance - 10,000 Webcast viewership - 75,000 Video on demand viewership - 10,000 The Glendale Merlins are the latest chapter in the storied development of rugby in Glendale, Colorado RugbyTown USA. Having a number of rugby teams play under the Glendale Raptors flagship for the past 10 years, the Glendale Merlins will help the differentiate the identities of the various rugby teams/programs that are part of the same rugby family at Infinity Park as they continue to grow. A merlin is a bird of prey (which, altogether, are known as raptors). While small in stature, the merlin is known for its ferocity. Merlins also display a strong sense of community and loyalty as when they team up to hunt in groups. Generations have been known to reside in the same place for decades. The vision of rugby at Infinity Park is to create a pathway for players to learn the skills and gain the experience they need in order to compete on all levels. Youth programs welcome children as young as five as they learn the basics of the game. The adult amateur teams at Infinity Park allow players who wish to continue their rugby career after high school or college to work with coaches and trainers to elevate their game. Playing against teams from across the country, these players are not only playing for the love of the game. They are also pushing themselves to see just how far they can go, whether that s the Olympic games or the country s top leagues. The Merlins name reflects that relentless pursuit of personal and team goals that drives each player.

9 GLENDALE MERLINS sponsorship Sponsorship levels starting at $5,000 Advertising rates available BRAND RECOGNITION Logo inclusion Signage Webcast live stream HD digital screen and ribbon display Naming rights Kit sponsorship Media exposure IN STADIUM ACTIVATION On-site opportunities Logo recognition on pitch Presenting sponsor of stadium activities Presenting sponsor of game day elements ( brought to you by... ) Complimentary tickets to Glendale Raptors regular season home matches DIGITAL PROMOTIONS & ADVERTISING inclusion Website advertisements Social media exposure Presenting sponsor of video elements Webcast advertisements Ticketing advertisements

10 this is INFINITY PARK The beautiful, green open space at Infinity Park is a place where that community can gather to enjoy themselves in the great outdoors. The eight-acre park features jogging and walking paths, public lawns, picnic tables and barbeque grills not to mention free wireless found throughout the Infinity Park campus. Monday Movie Madness transforms Infinity Park into one of the largest movie theaters in Colorado. Using the stadium s ample seating, HD LED jumbo screen, and booming sound system, Infinity Park is able to host thousands of moviegoers. The series is one of the most popular events at Infinity Park, and since screenings are viewer-selected and admittance is free, every seat is the best in the house. Every August, 20 of the world s top rugby 7s teams come to Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado for the RugbyTown 7s Elite International Tournament to compete for a $10,000 winner-take-all cash prize. Three days, 62 games, and only the top four teams from each pool will make it into the quarter-finals. The RugbyTown 7s Tournament is emblematic of the sport s growing popularity, and similarly, the exciting, fast-paced 7s play was part of the 2016 Olympic Games for the first time in nearly a century. Bring your families and fans to experience the exciting combination of worldclass rugby and the Bruises and Brews Beerfest, featuring the best craft beers and spirits from around the country. The Bruises and Brews Beerfest attracts thousands of attendees combining beer and rugby: two Colorado staples that are definitely better together. Infinity Park is the beating heart of Glendale, the very center of a vibrant, community-focused city an institution deeply invested in the people that surround and define it.

11 MONDAY MOVIES sponsorship Since 2007, Infinity Park has played host to thousands of movie-goers on five nights every other Monday in June, July and August. Promotions of this popular event begin in April with the annual Viewers Choice contest where fans vote for their favorites to make it into the movie lineup for the year. Average attendance: 2,500 per movie night Sponsorship levels begin at $1,500 Advertising rates available BRAND RECOGNITION Naming rights Logo inclusion (promotional collateral, advertising) Signage HD digital screen and ribbon display Media exposure IN STADIUM ACTIVATION On-site opportunities prior to the movie Presenting sponsor of prize giveaway(s) DIGITAL PROMOTIONS & ADVERTISING inclusion Website advertisements Social media exposure

12 RUGBYTOWN 7s sponsorship The last weekend of August, Infinity Park welcomes 20 teams from across the globe for three days of elite international rugby 7s competition. Promotions for this event begin in March of each year. Average attendance: 3,000 per day Average webcast viewership: 20,000 in over 50 countries Sponsorship levels begin at $1,500 Advertising rates available BRAND RECOGNITION Logo inclusion (collateral, programs, advertising) Signage Webcast live stream HD digital screen and ribbon display Naming rights Media exposure IN STADIUM ACTIVATION On-site opportunities Logo recognition on pitch Presenting sponsor of stadium activities Presenting sponsor of game day elements ( brought to you by... ) Complimentary tickets DIGITAL PROMOTIONS & ADVERTISING inclusion Website advertisements Social media exposure Presenting sponsor of video elements Webcast advertisements Ticketing advertisements

13 BEERFEST sponsorship Coinciding with RugbyTown 7s Elite International Tournament, Glendale s Bruises & Brews Beerfest takes place on the last Saturday and Sunday of August. Promotions for this event begin in March of each year, and are included in the vast majority of RugbyTown 7s promotions. Average attendance: 2,000 per day Sponsorship levels begin at $1,000 Advertising rates available BRAND RECOGNITION Naming rights (sold through 2018) Logo inclusion (promotional collateral, tasting mugs, advertising) HD digital screen and ribbon display Media exposure IN STADIUM ACTIVATION On-site opportunities DIGITAL PROMOTIONS & ADVERTISING inclusion Website advertisements Social media exposure Presenting sponsor of video elements Webcast advertisements Ticketing advertisements