Why am I not surprised by the news the Boston Triathlon needs a sponsor for its 6th annual event in order to remain viable, even though it attracts nearly 1,000 top competitors annually, including many elite athletes who compete at the Olympic distance? If it was a golf tournament Corporate America would be all over it. Which only goes to prove what I’ve always said… Sponsorship is about client and customer entertainment and really has nothing to do with helping a needy cause. A case in point was when Carly Fiorina became CEO of HP, she immediately canceled the companies less than $200,000 yearly sponsorship of the “Women’s Challenge,” one of the major bicycle races for women in the world which had created tremendous goodwill for the company for years. Instead she put several million into the Williams Formula One race car team. Much more glamerous, plus she got to spend a week in Monaco every spring watching the Monte Carlo Grand Prix. It’s not about ROI. It’s about RFM (return for me!)
Pop goes the money!
I wonder how much HP spent on corporate jets decending upon the Sundance film festival, and whether Mr. Hurd has kept it in budget??? I can only imagine what he would look like with Sable hat and bronzer.
Posted by: Ed O'Meara | January 27, 2006 6:31 PM | Permalink to Comment