British Handball Sponsorship Proposal

1

British Handball

10th November 2009

2

Be a part of our success

"I'm happy to say it loud and proud, I like handball. I think it's a cracking sport and will be looking out for its progress."

Matt Slater, BBC Olympic Correspondent

3

Overview

In August 2012 millions of people across the globe will be watching the greatest sporting event of all – the Olympic Games. On this occasion it will be the first time that British athletes have competed in one of the most popular spectator sports in the Olympics. The British Handball performance target for 2012 is a top 8 finish for both the Men’s and Women’s Handball teams that will compete in the Olympic competition, and whilst this is a stretch target for GB, it is achievable by virtue of the fact that it has been done before by other host nations. Prior to the Seoul Olympic Games, Korea had no international experience yet went on to win Gold and Silver in the Handball tournament. More recently China women won two games to make it through to the second part of the Beijing Olympic tournament and achieved a top 8 finish. Handball may not be amongst the top sports in Britain but it is a truly global sport with millions of participants and huge TV audiences, whereas Netball, one of the most popular British women’s sports is not an Olympic sport, is played in far fewer countries in the world, particularly Europe where handball is one of the most popular sports. In Germany in 2007, the final of the men’s World Handball Championship drew the top audience of the year (16.2 million), and the highest non-football sports audience for over a decade. Handball also accounted for the top sports audiences in the sport’s strongholds of Denmark and Norway* whilst in 2008 the Women’s European Championships in Macedonia attracted viewing figures of 352 Million. ** As a partner you will make a significant impact to the likelihood of GB handball team success through increased training and international competition opportunities. As a minority sport in Britain Handball is likely to receive strong media attention as the underdog. The opportunity to be associated with this story extends from top sponsor, kit sponsor, event sponsor, courtside and floor advertising, athlete images, PR, press, web and TV coverage. * http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/163942/rugby-and-handball-knock-football-off-euro-viewing-perch **http://www.infrontsports.com/uploads/media/Handball_EHF_FS_V_09_09.pdf

4

GB Handball Players in Europe Presently there are players based in clubs in 7 European countries.

5

Target markets

Our media and promotional campaign is aimed directly at the following demographic and psychographic groups: 1. Handball enthusiasts—people from all walks of life that play handball more than

20 times per year. Generally aged between 16-40 and often of European descent or students with a good knowledge of handball.

2. Handball adventurers – Aged 28–45, who may have dropped out of sport and are looking for a new sport experience either for social or fitness reasons.

3. Netball Players—By far the greatest number of Women’s sports enthusiasts in

Britain and a key target audience for handball given that Netball is not an Olympic Sport and has attributes that cannot be found in Netball such as contact.

4. Sport enthusiasts- Adults who are keen to explore a variety of sports and broaden

their sporting experience. Here we will also be targeting large sport fan bases such as football clubs. This year we have held a promotional event at half time during Crystal Palace v Blackpool in front of 15,000 supporters and we have had a photoshoot at Leyton Orient FC during at training session nearby. Both of which received coverage on their official websites.

5. New players—predominantly young people under the age of 18 who have been

exposed to handball recently, usually through school. 6. London 2012 Olympic supporters – The general public who may not usually

follow sport but will be interested to find out more about Olympic sports but who could be converted to support the ‘underdogs’ in the way in which Curling raised the British publics interested in an unprecedented fashion in 2002.

7. European – With the media attention surrounding GB players based in European

clubs and recent successful campaigns by the GB team, there is a strong interest in British Handball as we prepare for the 2012 Olympics.

6

Market Research We will be embarking upon comprehensive market research in 2010. We are happy to include up to four questions on top or team sponsor’s behalf and will provide them with full results of the research. Media plan

Based upon our identified target market, we have created a media plan that will generate interest in and awareness of the GB Handball teams, while specifically targeting our key markets. Television

Whilst we have been the subject of several TV interviews and news articles relating to funding cuts and 2012 prospects, we have now entered a new phase of TV coverage of the sport as opposed to human interest coverage. This has been achieved by British Handball paying for the production costs and the broadcaster providing free broadcasts and break bumpers although on this occasion they were not taken advantage of due to short notice. Sky Sports Xtra showed the GBR v FRA Women’s Euro qualifier on 5th and 6th November with two of those broadcasts being transmitted at 6pm and 10am. These were one hour transmissions with 8 break bumpers. (Copy of the broadcast available) This broadcast was presented by Neil Cole an experienced presenter of World Rally fame, and commented by our own Paul Bray who is the voice of European Handball on Eurosport. The forthcoming Euro Championship clashes with Iceland in March and Austria in May are planned to be shown by Sky Sports in a similar fashion and these are expected to be shown live in UK as well as broadcast to Iceland and Austria.

7

Radio

We have always been able to secure studio interviews with BBC 5 Live and local BBC radio stations ahead of GB home matches. We will pursue opportunities with independent radio stations to increase the radio exposure particularly to expose the sponsor brand and association. Newspaper Newspaper coverage is good, both in national dailies and regional newspapers. Invariably these include a good photo opportunity and are also repeated on the newspaper websites. Magazines

We have recently received an 8 page feature in SportPro magazine and have had several other features in other women’s magazines and websites. For example, GB winger Kelsi Fairbrother provides regular blogs on www.womensportreport.com. Other promotion

In addition to paid and promotional media, we provide a weekly ‘newsletter’ and specific press releases to over 450 media contacts through our media partner Snowdons Sport Media. Publicity

We have been fortunate enough to secure the services of one of the country’s top design houses, Saatchi and Saatchi Design, who have designed a new brand image for us which has created a huge amount of interest. We are seeking to engage a PR agency to act on our behalf as a value in kind sponsorship deal. Discussions are underway with a potential partner and we expect to announce this in January 2010.

8

Website and e-marketing

We have a primary website—www.britishhandball.com —averaging 10,000 hits per month. The website includes a wide variety of information about the sport, its athletes, sponsors, and information for people wanting to find out more about the sport, and is featured on all appropriate media promotion and publicity. There is an e-newsletter sign-up on the site which presently has 1500 subscribers who receive a weekly newsletter and updates about any forthcoming events. We also have a video website www.britishhandball.tv where athletes have their own channels which can be branded by a sponsor and intro and exit adverts can be added to the video clips. Sponsor banners can also be provided on this site. The latest tool that we are using is an audio platform called Ipadio, www.ipadio.com (see player on www.britishhandball.com homepage) where athletes and coaches can communicate with the public to bring them closer to their UK fanbase. This also offers branding opportunities. Signage

At official home GB matches there are 24 courtside advertising boards available, and opportunities for floor vinyls, 1 centre and 2 in each half of the court.

Where possible we utilize hoardings in municipal sites near to the match venue and at Liverpool recently we purchased 20 boards on Mersey Rail station sites which were highly visible. At events the venues will provide marketing opportunities many of which are free and include newspaper ads, posters and flyer distribution most of which can be branded.

Business Partners We have a young and growing business club through which we can promote events and market our teams. http://britishhandball.worldhandball.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?menuid=1766

9

Leverage ideas

Some of the areas in which we feel you we may be able to contribute to your promotion might be:

Promote your brand and increasing awareness of your brand both in UK and Europe through placing your logo on our players clothing and travel luggage, courtside advertising at matches and through presentation opportunities such as ‘GB Handball brought to you by sponsor A’ etc.

Placing your logo on website and printed publication.

Possible branding of GB training balls

Provide added value through association with an Olympic sport

Provide an opportunity for your customers and employees to ‘get behind’ an Olympic team with whom they can interact through online events and by attending matches, social networking

Branding of a mascot at all GB games and promotional events

Fly the flag for British sport as a company who cares and who has made a real difference to British sports Men & Women.

Watch a short video of the girls in action at the Echo Arena in Liverpool

10

Sponsorship

British Handball has a tiered sponsorship structure as follows:

The length of agreement and specific terms are totally negotiable.

TOP SPONSOR

> £100,000 pa

Corporate Sponsor

> £10,000 pa VIK and or Cash

Corporate Sponsor

> £10,000 pa VIK and or Cash

Corporate Sponsor

> £10,000 pa VIK and or Cash

Corporate Sponsor

> £10,000 pa VIK and or Cash

Corporate Sponsor

> £10,000 pa VIK and or Cash

Men’s Team Sponsor

> £50,000

Women’s Team Sponsor

> £50,000

50 Business Club Supporters / Smaller VIK Partners > £500 pa each (First Year Introductory Offer)

11

TOP SPONSOR – Minimum Benefits

Name Associated with British Handball Sponsor name always used whenever British Handball is used. E.g. British Handball in association with sponsor name.

Access to Athlete Image At all public appearances on all occasions that GB teams come together and on 1 occasion per year with each individual or small group of athletes. Use of athlete images on corporate material and press releases relating to the partnership.

Courtside Advertising 4 x courtside advertising boards at all GB home games (Men and Women)

Publications Sponsor name on all British Handball literature, full page advertisement in all match programmes and logo on all other British Handball publications. Logo shown on weekly Handball News header.

Clothing Prime position on all playing kit, logo on all luggage and casual wear. Bespoke branded clothing for sponsor/team special events.

Website and e-media. Logo permanently displayed on www.britishhandball.com in prime position. Logo always displayed on other BHA websites and e mailings. Logo shown on britishhandball.com email footers.

Corporate Hospitality 10 VIP tickets and 50 standard tickets at each home game

British Handball Logo All BHA devices may be used by the top sponsor.

Events Branding at PR events, BHA partner events, and Business club lunches. Sampling and product launch opportunities.

12

TEAM SPONSOR – Minimum Benefits

Name Associated with team Sponsor name used in association with either Men’s or Women’s team.

Access to Athlete Image At all matches and on 2 occasion per year with each individual or small group of athletes. Use of athlete images on corporate material and press releases relating to the partnership.

Courtside Advertising 2 x courtside advertising boards at all GB home games (Men or Women) and centre vinyl.

Publications Sponsor name on all British Handball literature, full page advertisement in all match programmes and logo on all other British Handball. Logo shown on weekly Handball News header.

Clothing Secondary position on all playing kit, logo on all luggage and casual wear. Bespoke branded clothing for sponsor/team special events.

Website and e-media. Logo permanently displayed on www.britishhandball.com Logo always displayed on other BHA websites and e mailings relating to the team.

Corporate Hospitality 10 VIP tickets and 50 standard tickets at each home game

British Handball Logo All BHA devices may be used by the team sponsor.

Events Branding at Matches and PR events relating to the team. Sampling and product launch opportunities

13

CORPORATE SPONSOR – Minimum Benefits

Access to Athlete Image Access to stock athlete images on corporate material and press releases relating to the partnership.

Courtside Advertising 1 x courtside advertising boards at all GB home games (Men and Women)

Publications Sponsor name on all British Handball literature, 1/2 page advertisement in all match programmes and logo on all other British Handball publications. Logo shown on weekly Handball News footer.

Clothing Logo featured on all playing kit

Website Logo displayed on www.britishhandball.com

Corporate Hospitality 5 VIP tickets and 20 standard tickets at each home game

British Handball Logo All BHA devices may be used by the corporate sponsor.

Events Branding / promotional opportunities at Matches and PR events and Business club events.

Costs Costs associated with activation i.e. events, corporate hospitality (in addition to VIP tickets) travel and hotel cost relating to athlete appearances, branding of clothing, advertising boards etc. will be borne by the sponsor. British Handball is vat registered and any figures quoted are exclusive of vat. Each party will bear its own legal costs in relation to any sponsorship agreement.

14

Contact Information Adam Walker Managing Partner Oaks Consultancy +44(0)774 777 8447 +44 (0)1676 521036 [email protected] Paul Goodwin Chief Executive British Handball +44 (0)797 047 4714 [email protected] Frazer Snowdon British Handball Media Officer +44 (0)786 600 4382 [email protected] www.britishhandball.com www.britishhandball.tv www.englandhandball.com www.scottishhandball.com