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NEW SPONSORS FOR PLYMOUTH |
13/08/08
Raiders Announce
Major Sponsorships
The Plymouth Raiders are proud to announce one of the biggest sponsorship deals in British basketball history with the news of a new main sponsorship deal with Wrigley's Airwaves chewing gum. The deal will see Raiders take the next step in the club's development, and further build the profile of the South West's most successful sports team. The team will now be known as Airwaves Plymouth Raiders.
Airwaves is one of the biggest and most recognisable chewing gum brands in the world. The Wrigley Company has a proud tradition in sports sponsorship from grassroots to elite level, including supporting a wide range of Britain's highest profile sports, for example Wrigley's Extra partnership with the Football Premier League, and Airwaves sponsorship of the BSB Ducati team. Airwaves is now delighted to be moving into basketball, the world's fastest growing and biggest participation sport.
Gharry Eccles, Managing Director of the Wrigley Company, UK and Ireland said, "Wrigley's Airwaves is delighted to be the lead sponsor of the Plymouth Raiders and support one of the fastest growing sports in the World. Airwaves is the second fastest growing chewing gum brand making it a great fit with the aspirations of the Plymouth Raiders, one of the most celebrated basketball teams in the UK. We look forward to helping the Plymouth Raiders 'Kick up a Gear' and wish the Airwaves Plymouth Raiders team all the very best in the forthcoming season."
"We're immensely proud to be working with Wrigley's Airwaves," said Raiders' Chief Executive Dave Briggs. "We've been working extremely hard off the court to take the club to the next level, and the announcements today are a culmination of months of hard work and commitment from everyone. The Wrigley Company has a very proud tradition here in Plymouth and they're showing their commitment to the city by sponsoring the Raiders through its Airwaves brand. Airwaves is a vibrant and exciting brand to be involved with, and to have secured this deal is a great sign for basketball in Britain, as well as here in Plymouth. We already have the best basketball presentation at home games, but we hope this year to take that to another level again. Announcements like today can only help with this, and we look forward to making further announcements in the coming weeks."
The club are also thrilled to have signed an exclusive 2 year kit sponsorship agreement with FBT Sports. The company was established in 1952 and is now one of the biggest sportswear manufacturers in Asia, exporting quality sports apparel and equipment to over 40 countries worldwide.
Steve Reeve, UK Director for FBT Sports said, "FBT Sports UK LTD are proud to have linked with Airwaves Plymouth Raiders, to bring our unique bespoke range of sportswear to the team and its coaching staff. As a locally based company, backed by one of the largest sportswear manufacturers in Asia, we have been able to work closely with the club and its sponsors to produce a range of team wear for on and off the court. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with Airwaves Plymouth Raiders over the next few years, and wish them well for the coming season."
"This is another significant announcement for the club," commented Briggs. "FBT are fast emerging as one of the best sportswear manufacturers in the world and they're very ambitious to break into the European, and particularly the UK market in the next few years.
FBT want Raiders as one of their flagship teams, and we're honoured and proud to be working with such a forward thinking and exciting company."
"The two announcements today represent a strong future for the club," said Raiders Chairman Bob Widdecombe. "Building our relationship with both organisations will help develop the club's brand across the South West and through the basketball community in the UK. Basketball is a fast paced, exciting and entertaining family sport, and over the next few years we want to solidify our position as one of the top professional teams in the country." The club's head coach Gary Stronach is now looking forward to a hard month of pre season work, in preparation for what the club hope will be their best season to date, starting with an away game at Worthing Thunder on September 27th.
"Today's announcements are massive for this club," said Stronach. "This is my 24th season at the club, and never has the future looked as exciting or as secure as it does now. We're working with two premier brands and that's allowing us to make some key moves both on and off the basketball court. We cant wait now to get the players back to Plymouth and start preparing for the upcoming season."