Sponsorship News Round Up

Some sponsorship stories from around the world in recent days.

Ford cuts back on V8 funding
Ford has defended its decision to strip funding from most of its V8 Supercar teams next year, including championship-chasing Team Vodafone and the iconic Dick Johnson Racing.

In a cost-cutting move designed to save millions, the car maker announced it would concentrate its sponsorship money on just two teams from 2009 - Ford Performance Racing (FPR) and Stone Brothers Racing (SBR). Ford won't say exactly how much the move to tighten its sponsorship will save, but it is understood to be upwards of $3 million.

But Ford said its V8 Supercar outlay would remain the brand's biggest Australian sporting sponsorship. Full Story

Gulf Air signs sponsorship deal with QPR
Queens Park Rangers to carry Gulf Air branding on their shirts from next season. With Bernie Ecclestone, Flavio Briatore and Lakshmi Mittal involved the club could be destined for big things.

In the never-ending jousting among Gulf airlines, it falls some way short of Emirates but certainly tops Qatar Airways. Gulf Air is to be named as shirt sponsor of Queens Park Rangers, the sixth best football team in London.

It doesn't quite match Emirates $200m deal to sponsor Arsenal (including 15-year naming rights on the stadium), but it certainly looks more impressive Qatar Airways buying an ad on the roof of Brentford FC's Griffin Park ground (the ad could be glimpsed as planes come in to land at nearby Heathrow). Full Story

Aegon kicks off €70 mln sponsorship with Ajax
Aegon and world-renowned Dutch soccer club Ajax formally launched their new partnership with the unveiling of a giant copy of Ajax's red and white game shirt featuring, for the first time, the Aegon brand. As part of the sponsorship deal, Ajax will receive between EUR 10 mln and 12 mln a year over the next seven years from Aegon - the precise amount depending on the team's performance.

In addition to the Ajax sponsorship, Aegon also makes significant contributions to sport through its sponsorship of, amongst others, the Dutch national speed skating federation. US champion golfers Zach Johnson and Taylor Leon. UK golfer Lloyd Saltman and Czech speed skater Martina Sablikova. Full Story