Following another record-breaking year for sponsorship investment, estimated to reach €226m in 2019, Onside and the Marketing Institute of Ireland (MII) will host the “Who Won Sponsorship Series 2019” on Wednesday, 20th November at the Aviva Stadium.
The event will combine a review of sponsorship activity during 2019 and will also include panel discussions from industry experts, Irish based rightsholders and marketing professionals in addition to the findings of a research-based assessment of Ireland’s top performing sport and non-sport sponsorships in 2019.
With recent Onside research finding that more than half of Ireland’s adult population plan on tuning in to watch the Irish team compete in Japan, the Rugby World Cup, one of 2019’s marquee global sports events, will form one aspect of the content for the day. IRFU Commercial & Marketing Director, Padraig Power and Vodafone’s Head of Sponsorship & Business Brand, Gerry Nixon will join a panel to discuss commercial and sponsorship activity around the tournament.
An panel of leading sports talent in Ireland including Irish Sevens International and Love Island winner, Greg O’Shea will discuss the prominent role that athlete and personality ambassadors play in the Irish sponsorship landscape. Former Ireland and Munster legend, Paul O’Connell will also join Aldi Marketing Director Rita Kirwan in sharing the success of the retailers’ award winning sponsorship programme. LGFA CEO Helen O’Rourke, will share her perspectives on the huge growth of women’s sport in Ireland in recent times, while John Crumlish, CEO of the Galway International Arts Festival is set to provide a perspective on the power of arts and festivals in making a difference through sponsorship.
This year’s event will also take the end of decade opportunity to celebrate the best in class sponsorship initiatives of the last 10 years, a period that Onside estimates saw investment in sponsorship increase by 70%. Key influencers shaping how this growth has developed including Rory Sheridan, Head of Partnerships across Europe at Diageo, leading global brand marketing practitioner Damien Devaney, and Peter McKenna, GAA Stadium & Commercial Director will discuss the evolution of the sponsorship industry over the last decade. Further speakers will be announced ahead of the event.
According to John Trainor, Founder and CEO of Onside: “Given sponsorship’s ability to drive deepening loyalty it is no surprise that it continues to be one of the fastest growing tools in the marketing mix. The level of investment in sponsorship has grown significantly over the last 10 years. We are looking forward to bringing together many of the industry leaders to discuss the evolution as well as showcase Ireland’s most effective sponsorships not just for 2019 but also over the last 10 years.”
The “Who Won Sponsorship Series 2019” event takes place on Wednesday, November 20th in the Aviva Stadium. Tickets are priced at €75 for individual and corporate members of the Marketing Institute of Ireland or €100 for non-members and can be purchased HERE: https://mii.ie/events
