Dublin hit jackpot as AIG come on board in €3.5m deal
The money-spinning link-up has been officially announced as a five-year deal but industry insiders have indicated that Dublin GAA could benefit to the tune of €2m over the next three years alone.
And it is understood that the lucrative partnership with the former sponsors of Manchester United could be worth up to €3.5m over the full duration of the deal.
Dublin’s previous sponsors Vodafone, who were on board for four years, were pumping an estimated €1m per annum into county board coffers.
Naturally Dublin struggled to match that bumper figure but they have hit the jackpot with AIG, in a deal that copper-fastens the county’s box office status.
Naturally, Dublin proved an attractive proposition for AIG, as the county won the All-Ireland senior football title this year, along with an historic Leinster senior hurling championship success, the first since 1961.
A statement issued last night revealed that county’s hurling and football teams at all levels will be covered under the deal. And for the very first time, ladies football and camogie teams will also come under the AIG umbrella.
The agreement begins on November 1 and rival county boards can only look on with envy at Dublin’s pulling power.
The underage scene in the capital is thriving and with huge numbers to pull from, Dublin’s future as a dual force looks extremely bright.
This enormous tie-up with AIG will come as a huge fillip to Dublin officials, who believe that spending on county teams in 2013 will come close to €2m when the figures are totted up for annual convention.
Announcing the sponsorship, AIG Ireland general manager Declan O’Rourke said: “This is a massive day for AIG in Ireland and we are thrilled to be associated with Dublin GAA.
“We are extremely proud to unite all the GAA family in the capital — football, hurling, camogie and ladies football — under one sponsorship brand, AIG.”
Dublin county board chairman Andy Kettle confirmed: “The strength of the Dublin brand is illustrated by our ability to negotiate this outstanding sponsorship in a depressed economic market.
“AIG is a blue chip organisation with a proven track record in sponsorship and they are going to be an exceptional partner and they fully understand what we are trying to achieve in Dublin. The sponsorship revenue is critical in helping towards our expenditure on club coaching programmes and inter-county teams at all levels.
“AIG is also finalising their sponsorship activation plans which will promote GAA in the capital at all levels. We are very much looking forward to working closely with AIG over the next five years.”
Dublin’s new jersey for the 2014 campaign will be launched within a month and looks set to become a smash hit for the Christmas market.
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