the cost of losing sponsorship for a "pro"

[scooby15]

So just before the long weekend Darren Lill tweeted that the team Cannondale blend is closing as they’ve struggled to find replacement sponsors...Evans and Knox basically received a lifeline with biogen/volcan, so that leaves less than a handful of sponsored teams, Scott, Kargo, RECM, EIA, is there a thing as a full mtb professional in SA?? Or is it a dying breed with sponsors looking more at sponsoring events
 
I saw a tweet a while back from one of the top guys regarding prize money at a 3 day event not even covering their entry fees....so are the events really worried about if they pros enter or the CEO's on a 3 day adventure...
 
There must be hubbers that have knowledge on how it works being a “pro”, are the remaining “pro” teams fully sponsored, salaries, expenses, entry fees, performance bonuses... or are they dependent on something on the side be it a coaching, having a shop etc.
 
All opinions/feedback welcome

["Mechanic"]

As a Junior cyclist I'm also really interested to see what some of you hubbers think of this topic. Really sad to see such a great performing team closing down

[V12man]

Look for tweets and posts by oldcootbiker - he is an ex sponsor... and he did put out the numbers a while back - then he got upset with tjop george... and that was the end of that pretty much.

[RocknRolla]

For a 4 man team competing in all major races (excl epic and joburg2c) you are looking at half a million - this was last years figures.
This includes travel and accommodation costs.

If one includes race bikes, a mechanic, coach and sport scientists/ physio the costs creep over a million rand for a season very rapidly.
When these costs were calculated, it excluded a "salary" for team members.

Personally, I think to be a "career mountain biker" in this country is impossible, the ROI for sponsors are just not there.

All the above relates to mountain biking.

[milky4130]

Just commenting to keep tabs on the feedback.

What would also be interesting to see from Sponsors, did their profits increase or drop after or while sponsoring some Pro's?

[RocknRolla]

To accurately measure ROI serious market research needs to be undertaken by said sponsors, dont think looking at your bottom line is accurate to say the marketing excersise with a cycling team is working.

[Squier]

IMO the unfortunate thing is that we don't see the real big cash cows in the MTB scene investing much back into the riders. Unfortunately, due to its checkered past, cycling is no longer the most attractive place to spend your marketing budget for big corporates, so we need some support from inside the sport. 

 

Yes, there are bike shops and race orgainsers that are struggling, but there are also many who are really succesful. Would be great to see them investing something back into the sport that made them so succesful. I know we do see it (the Valencia name springs to mind) but not as much as I would think it possible.

[dirtypot]

Sponsoring riders is a massive expense.  I bring in enduro motorbikes, and had a race team of four guys.  Race entries + air fares + accommodation + spares = about R20-30k per month.  And that's just for the running of the bikes - (almost) all of the riders had full time jobs!  Plus the initial cost of the bikes too... Get to something big like the Roof of Africa and you're hitting R70-80k easily.

Does that sponsorship sell bikes?  Simple answer is no. 

 

Pro cycling must be even worse though if they're full time athletes expecting a salary...

[Cassie]

What would you rather do? Spend the R500k on a four man team in the hope that they "might" reach a podium once in a while??

 

OR

 

Spend less that that amount on an event that attracts say 5000 entrants where your sponsorship is much  more clearly displayed?

 

 

It's sad but true...my money will be with the latter...

[GLuvsMtb]

Another aspect worth noting is the behavior of our pro's. Seeing the Sani2C winners suiping every night until they fall over, having rumors of riders sleeping with team mates wives, top riders testing positive and local riders falling off podiums when the internationals rock up makes it very difficult for riders to attract sponsors. Event organizers are much more responsible and accountable, making it an easier 'sell' to corporates.

[nonky]

So many events, so many bikeshops, so many MTBers riding bikes that cost R50k+ and, yet, there's not enough money to support a handful of pro teams?

Corporate sponsors like ABSA, Nedbank, Old Mutual, RE:CM etc. involved and there's STILL not enough money?

Three or four dedicated bike magazines, cycling TV shows etc. for exposure and sponsorship doesn't make sense?

R500k per annum doesn't pay for one Super Rugby player, so it's not a large amount of money in the greater scheme of things.

Something doesn't make sense here...

.

[101SCC]

Cycling as a setup needs to change it's structures.

It needs more Teams that share in the spoils of the sport / tv rights etc

 

Who Sponsors Man U?

Does Man U collapse when it loses a sponsor?

 

How much Money did the pro teams get from Cape Epic for the TV Coverage?

 

The UCI needs to shake things up a bit, teams need to become businesses with 'Franchise' style licences, it needs to follow the global trend

 

F1; IPL; Super Rugby; British Premier League; La Liga

 

My 2c

[GLuvsMtb]

So many events, so many bikeshops, so many MTBers riding bikes that cost R50k+ and, yet, there's not enough money to support a handful of pro teams?

Corporate sponsors like ABSA, Nedbank, Old Mutual, RE:CM etc. involved and there's STILL not enough money?

Three or four dedicated bike magazines, cycling TV shows etc. for exposure and sponsorship doesn't make sense?

R500k per annum doesn't pay for one Super Rugby player, so it's not a large amount of money in the greater scheme of things.

Something doesn't make sense here...

.

Lets see, rugby players have SARU, SA rugby, Players Representation, Sports Agencies and local rugby unions. Cyclists have CSA and perhaps a token provincial setup. How many Saffas watch rugby from 3pm till 9pm on a Saturday? How many spectators were there at this years Epic finish compared to last years Currie Cup Final? Apples and donkeypooh if you ask me...

[nonky]

Lets see, rugby players have SARU, SA rugby, Players Representation, Sports Agencies and local rugby unions. Cyclists have CSA and perhaps a token provincial setup. How many Saffas watch rugby from 3pm till 9pm on a Saturday? How many spectators were there at this years Epic finish compared to last years Currie Cup Final? Apples and donkeypooh if you ask me...

How many okes go out and spent R50k on new rugby gear for themselves, then some more for their wives and then again for their kids?

[Pulse]

Cycling as a setup needs to change it's structures.

It needs more Teams that share in the spoils of the sport / tv rights etc

 

Who Sponsors Man U?

Does Man U collapse when it loses a sponsor?

 

How much Money did the pro teams get from Cape Epic for the TV Coverage?

 

The UCI needs to shake things up a bit, teams need to become businesses with 'Franchise' style licences, it needs to follow the global trend

 

F1; IPL; Super Rugby; British Premier League; La Liga

 

My 2c

 

Mass spectator sports vs small (in SA) spectator following for cycling?

[GLuvsMtb]

How many okes go out and spent R50k on new rugby gear for themselves, then some more for their wives and then again for their kids?

you get 25 000 spending R100 each every Saturday for a home game at Newlands. Not the same numbers in Joburg (hence them having worker boots as a sponsor). Will you buy a bike because some dude who behaves like a 6 year old off the bike rides that bike, or are you more likely to buy a bike that brought a good local race to you and your wife to enjoy together? You have every daily and Sunday Newspaper reporting indepth on each rugby game. Cape Times pulled their Epic Column halfway through stage 1 of the race. A successful Stormers franchise will also "sell" a few Discoveries and a successful Bulls franchise will "sell" a few Isuzu's. With an estimated 3 000 000 local rugby supporters watching at least 2 of the 5 Super Rugby games over a normal weekend you see that sponsor's kit for much longer than watching a local mtb race highlight package at 11pm on SuperSport 9 on a Monday night. If our Rugby players feel hard done by with contracts, they can play in Japan or Europe for competitive teams, our "pro's" that have tried to race on the European circuit usually end in the second half of the field, Burry being the obvious exception. Cycling is a very popular family activity, but consider how many school kids play rugby compared to taking part in cycling events.