Victory sponsor boom: “100 on track”

Melbourne Victory predicts it will secure 100 corporations in their business networking group Victory In Business (VIB) by the end of 2014.

Melbourne Victory predicts it will secure 100 corporations in their business networking group Victory In Business (VIB) by the end of 2014.

The club is close to cracking the century mark after starting with just eight companies as members in the inaugural Hyundai A-League season in 2005.

Victory in Business has so far undertaken close to $70 million worth of business-to-business transactions since 2005-06 and already has 92 members.

“We think we’re the largest corporate sports networking outside of game day in Australia,” commercial manager Jim Christo told the Australian Financial Review.

“We’ve got a loyal group of directors of companies that do a lot of business under the Victory banner.”

With current major sponsor Adecco not renewing their deal beyond this season, Victory is also on the lookout for a new principal sponsor for next season.

“What a sponsor would be getting is tapping into the business network we have created and a team that is perceived to be successful on and off the park,” Christo said.

“We’ve had research done by [consultancy firm] Repucom that shows the branding value of our previous sponsors has been nine times that of the value of the deal.”

The Victory also host four VIB functions every year, with Christo revealing several AFL clubs in Melbourne have approached the club for advice regarding the establishing of similar ventures.

In other news, Wellington’s plans for a proposed new stadium have hit a snag with a grandstand at the venue deemed an earthquake risk.

It’s understood the cost of strengthening the stand at the Petone Recreation Ground could increase the $48m projected price tag to renovate the 12,000-seat venue.

Phoenix co-owner Gareth Morgan said something would have to be done about the stand but the cost would have to be considered.

“It’s nice to have on a stadium but, if it’s too much, cost matters,” he said.

The venue is currently used for rugby matches and other events in the city.

“It was built in 1939 and there is not a crack in the whole place,” Petone Rugby Club publicity officer Wayne Smith said.

“If there was an earth-quake it would probably be the first place I’d run to for shelter.”