Mens League Team Sponsorship

[hampshirepuck 2]

Looking for some advice on gaining sponsorship for my team, what kind of packages should I offer to potential sponsors like jersey or helmet hits and for how much, I don't really know where to start so any advice in this topic would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Chadd 916]

The most important thing is to tell them how the investment is going to make them money. You can get a bar or restaurant to throw some cash your way, if you are willing to go there after games or on a regular basis. If it's just about having them give you money and not giving them anything back in return, it's really hard to get people to buy in.

[MyBoxersSayJoe 133]

I played for one team sponsored by a bar. The team went to the bar after the games. I wasn't 21 at the time, so I wasn't able to join.

But, yeah, lay out how it will be good exposure for said business.

On the other hand, I'd think if you're getting sponsored, your behavior on ice should be appropriate. There are businesses I specifically boycott as a result of them sponsoring some of the dirtier teams I've played against.

[Davetronz 109]

On the other hand, I'd think if you're getting sponsored, your behavior on ice should be appropriate. There are businesses I specifically boycott as a result of them sponsoring some of the dirtier teams I've played against.

This.

So true, and also a reason why some businesses might hesitate to sponsor a team unless they personally know a majority of the players.

[t0nnn 0]

As said above, my buddy plays beer league softball and a local bar sponsers them, they just go there after their game every week. My Uncle sponsers our mens league roller team, he owns and runs a Chiropractic office, so we go in for treatment in return when we need it...helps out on both sides, getting adjusted every couple weeks is nice

He paid for the jerseys, and has his logo, website and phone number on the back of the jerseys under the number.

[JR97 2]

We were regular customers of a local pub so it wasn't hard to get their sponsorship. All we got out of the deal was jerseys which ended up being the absolute cheapest/crappiest jersey you can get. We really had no control over that. Instead of just financing the jerseys, the owner ordered them. And then the service at the bar went to the pooper and we just stopped going there altogether. Anywho, back to topic... getting them to buy jerseys wasn't hard at all since our weekly beer/food tab was usually pretty significant. Plus there are quite a few other teams in the league sponsored by other local pubs/taverns and the owner liked having is establishment associated with the hockey community.

A few other teams in the league are sponsored by businesses where someone on the team works. Usually it just covers jerseys. Maybe socks.

[strosedefence34 175]

here is a link to my mens league sponsorship page. http://acahl.com/sponsors.htm

[akravetz 29]

We are sponsored by a local pub here in Peoria. What they did was buy the jerseys for us which was very cool. After games, we hang out at the pub and drink Guinness (Irish pub). Life is good. But Peoria's very low-key in their leagues. There are no trophies, no publicity, nothing on the park district's Web site. It's just a bunch of guys who want to have fun.

[shotty 7]

you're really not selling the sponsorship as exposure... there are no fans, no cameras, and the opposition probably isn't going to go to some place just because they saw it on a jersey -- actually likely the opposite, as someone already stated, regardless of their style of play.

for the most part, a sponsorship will come from a bar or restaurant and they will expect the team to patronize throughout the season. they are essentially loaning you money for fees or jerseys or whatever and the hope is that over the course of a season, you will have paid it back and then some.

as a starter, its alot easier to have the team out to the same venue a few times and then propose sponsorship, because they will then see what type of guys you are, that you are serious and honest about a partnership and that, most importantly, they see value. it's all too easy to bombard all the pubs in your area with a generic proposition, which is probably what many other teams are doing, but you might not even need to do any selling if you walk the walk.

on top of all that, if you want to get creative and want to help them increase business above and beyond what your team can provide, add to your proposal that the pub (or bar or restaurant) offer a free post game pitcher or plate of wings to any opponent within your div that beats you!

[JR97 2]

Also don't count out schwaggggggg. We had a special logo made of the Tavern's logo with hockey sticks and the place put the logo on some hats, beanies, and other things.

[JoeyJ0506 192]

The way it worked for my team was that myself and one of my alternate captains were at the restaurant on a weekly basis. He was there almost nightly after work for dinner. We basically got to be good friends with the general manager. I started bringing my girlfriend at the time there for our Friday date nights. Basically, between my friend and I we (especially he) spent a pretty significant amount of time and money there before we even thought about bringing the idea up. Even after we brought it up and it was initially shot down we continued to keep going wihtout bringing it up again to the GM.

As someone stated above, you have to be a good customer to the business and not just start things out approaching them with and open hand expecting to get money. You also have to hold up your end of the bargain going forward. We make sure to schedule a team party at the place every season. Everyone on the team is expected to show up eat, drink, and hang out. Our tab, as a team, is usually more than what the place kicks back to us every season so it works out in their favor. We also make sure to stress how important it is that our team patronize them every chance they get.

We split the cost of new 100% custom jerseys from JunkYard Athletic the first season. They are completely unique, and you cannot look at us on the ice without knowing who sponsors us. We also footed the bill for a jersey for them to hang in their bar area.

It is really 100% about the relationship you build with them before even asking for a sponsorship, and then maintaining the benefit to them throughout the life of it. The latter part is the hardest as the novelty of being sponsored wears off on your team. You will also ALWAYS have people that do not want to be bothered with being a part of the team away from the rink.

[IPv6Freely 2092]

I'd love to be on a team that goes to the bar after the game. My dad's team was like that. With ours, we drink some beers in the parking lot and go home. Kinda sucks.

[Chadd 916]

I'd love to be on a team that goes to the bar after the game. My dad's team was like that. With ours, we drink some beers in the parking lot and go home. Kinda sucks.

We do that, but we also grill something too. This week it was a couple pounds of chorizo on the grill and a case of beer after the game.

[JR97 2]

We do that, but we also grill something too. This week it was a couple pounds of chorizo on the grill and a case of beer after the game.

I miss my old team where it was the hibachi and pbr's after every game. Or sometimes before and after. :)

[akravetz 29]

For me, it's not just the hanging out, the camaraderie and the beer (of course) but it is the fact that when I was new, no one came be gruff about being offsides, missing a pass or even (gasp) sending a pass right through the middle as a defenseman. What I like is that the guys play hard, want to win but in the end, it is about fun. No one has any illusions about our future in the NHL. And yet, every year come play-offs, we make a deep run and finish either second or third. Can't beat that.

Andy in Peoria

[Cams 7]

Here is how the one team I played on worked with sponsorship - just some insight.... I ran the team so I had to go find the sponsor, etc. (also had to pay the league fees and chase people for money )

We did this 3 years in a row (2 years with one bar): I approached the manager of a place my buddies/teammates frequented post game, or as a regular hangout. It was going to be difficult as we played in a Sunday AM league (game times 8AM-noon start times). What we basically worked out was this: After everygame, the team would head to the bar/pub. For every person that showed up (player, buddy, wife/gf, etc.) we were given $2 credit. At the end of the season, this could add up quite a bit - this money would go towards are league fees for the following season (or however we wanted to divide it up). Every other week I think, we got a free pitcher of beer, and maybe some appetizers. I designed the jersey myself and had their name silkscreened on them.

This worked out good, as long as you had a good turn out. Being on a Sunday AM, alcohol isn't served until 11Am I think, so that kind of was a hinderance if we had an early game.

Overall - it worked out pretty good.

[stuie7 6]

Just to echo what other people have already said, you're going to have to use your personal connections as best you can. Approaching random companies isn't going to get you too far!