Birmingham PR agency Golley Slater is working with Warwickshire County Cricket Club to promote the launch of the new Twenty20 cricket season at Edgbaston.
Based around a Wild West theme, the agency said the campaign captures the high-energy spirit of the short version of the game which has attracted sponsorship interest from a wider selection of businesses than is usually associated with the sport.
Four companies based in Birmingham have agreed new sponsorship deals with Warwickshire for the 2009 season as the appeal of the domestic Twenty20 Cup continues to grow. These are wealth management and tax group Blackstar, CrossCountry Trains, StarCity and BRMB.
The Bears’ home Twenty20 campaign begins on Friday May 29 when they take on Worcestershire Royals. Apart from the international matches, this is the biggest fixture at Edgbaston over the summer.
The Bears will play five games at home between Friday May 29 and Sunday June 28 and will be looking to secure a place in the Twenty20 Finals Day at Edgbaston on Saturday August 15.
Nathan Lane, managing director at Golley Slater’s Birmingham agency, said: “As Twenty20’s profile continues to soar, we are on hand to offer the PR and online support that Warwickshire needs to enable it to connect even more with commercial sectors intent on capitalising on the boom of the sport.
“With Sky coverage and increased focus on cricket in general, there are more and more opportunities for sponsors to become involved with the club and benefit from the rise in the game’s popularity.”
Warwickshire commercial director James McLaughlin is delighted with the interest from the business community.
“It is obvious to see that Twenty20 is still one of the hottest properties in the cricket world and it is great to welcome local companies onboard with Warwickshire CCC for the exciting summer ahead,” he said.
Blackstar, a London-based wealth management and tax group with client services, administration and wealth management centres in the Midlands, are the front-of-the-shirt sponsors for the 2009 season.
Craig Humphreys of Blackstar Wealth Management said: “We are looking forward to becoming more than just a sponsor and hope to become part of the team, with fingers crossed that we make it all the way through to this year’s finals at Edgbaston.”
Entertainment venue StarCity has taken the back of the shirt as part of their sponsorship deal and they are looking forward to the action that accompanies the Twenty20 Cup.
StarCity general manager Mark Wilson said: “Both StarCity and Edgbaston will be encouraging new young players and supporters of cricket and for the first time tickets for the Twenty20 will be available at StarCity.”
CrossCountry Trains, based in Snow Hill station in Birmingham, have also come on board and radio station BRMB will become Warwickshire’s official radio partner for 2009.
They will provide the music at all the Bears’ five home games and DJ Russ Morris will be the match host for all the Edgbaston fixtures.
