Business Development Manager, Jamie Stoddart provides some information on a number of topics related to his work at Boundary Park.
As we enter the second-half of the season and beyond, I feel it is a good time to share the commercial state of play, the availability we currently have and plans for next season. I hope this commercial update finds you well and hopefully there is something in here for everyone, be it an opportunity or simply good news.
Our relationships with business owners and the business community locally and regionally have never been more important to us and commercial income is imperative in our quest to survive and ultimately grow the football club. The main areas that we are concentrating on are stadium sponsorship, kit sponsorship, perimeter and in-stadia advertising.
The Identity FS 'seat kill' banner looked outstanding throughout its debut on Saturday and will sit directly facing the iFollow camera for the remaining games of the season. It goes without saying, that without fans in the ground there is availability right across the TV arc for further banners in each of the facing stands.
Oldham Picks has been a tremendous addition to the commercial inventory and is currently generating the best part of £1,000 per game. Thank you for participating and spreading the word in the numbers that you have and at a time when funds are difficult to find, the Oldham Picks app has been a great source of income and has hopefully improved your matchday experience in recent months as well.
Social media advertising is a great way to put your business or brand in the eyeline of the approximately 200k social media followers that we have across the major channels and Kenobi Technology Solutions’ sponsoring of the club interviews are a great example of how to utilise a regular feature.
In terms of perimeter advertising, we still have slots for static boards. Tried and tested for decades and still a great way to spread your brand or message.
I'm also pleased to say we are working towards the LED boards returning for the Exeter game next weekend which hopefully pleases the fans as much as it does the club. We have worked hard to find a solution and we believe we have found the best route forward with ADI.tv and the software that will be running the LED will allow us to sell by the minute or by the 'moment'. If you want guaranteed time on the system, it will be £300+vat for one minute at each of the remaining nine home games. For clarity, the one-off price paid will see your advert on the system for nine minutes between now and May.
In terms of selling moments, some of these could be looked upon as somewhat of a gamble but are potentially much more beneficial and worthwhile. We can look at the five minutes leading up to kick-off, substitutions, penalties, half-time and injury time. For each moment, your brand will be the sole advert on all three sides of the LED and in the case of injury time, that could be one minute, or it could be five, six or even longer depending on how each match is conducted by the officials. Substitutions and injury time would also include an in-stadia announcement.
Stadium Sponsorship
A package for the naming rights of Boundary Park can be tailored to suit different types of business and sizes of budget and we are very much flexible in terms of how this can be designed. A purely naming rights deal to be announced on the major sports channels to generate nationwide exposure is very much on the table, as is a package that involves hospitality, in-stadia branding and a generally greater, local presence.
Kit Sponsorships
As you may have seen in recent weeks, Oldham Vending Services have very kindly offered to vacate their front of shirt sponsorship should we be able to strike a more lucrative deal. An extremely generous offer I am sure you will agree. Similarly, with stadium sponsorship, we are very flexible in our approach and mindful of the current global landscape, so any package can be tailored to suit your business needs and expectations.
The back of shirt sponsorship, currently occupied by Kenobi Technology Solutions is available for the 2021/22 season and we may well go down the route of holding a draw, as we did last season. The ideal scenario is that somebody wants to put their name to it for the next campaign and beyond and we are very much open to having that conversation as soon as possible.
Training kit, travel kit, warm-up kit, anthem jackets and matchday hummel attire worn by the First Team staff in the dugout are also available for next season. Many of these assets haven’t been utilised in recent seasons and to be first would certainly be impactful from an advertising point of view. There aren’t as many rules and regulations around this type of apparel compared to the playing kit so the front, back, collars and sleeves are all options, depending on what best suits the business in question.
As you can see, we have availability on every level for sponsorship or partnerships with Latics and with what we have to offer, we believe there is an entry point for all businesses, be it this season or next.
We are all aware of the current situation in football and particularly in the EFL, so we very much need and welcome the support of fans and local businesses. With an unbelievably passionate fan base and a team playing on the front foot and scoring goals, Oldham Athletic are a great vehicle to advertise your brand and tell the world your story.
To get in touch directly, please email Jamie.Stoddart@oldhamathletic.co.uk