Virgin Blue have just announced a sponsorship deal with the Queensland Reds Rugby Union side (article from today's Crikey below)

And it appears they may be in the hunt for more sporting involvement.


Virgin Blue, hello Carlton Marketing Department, this is a perfect fit - or does the AFL deal with Qantas preclude us from doing anything.






20. A Virgin landing footy clubs will welcome
Jeff Wall writes:



A relatively minor sports sponsorship announcement in Brisbane yesterday will have many sporting organisations, and the football codes in particular, salivating.


These are not easy times to attract significant corporate sports sponsorship. A couple of NRL clubs, for example still have significant "gaps" in their 2007 sponsorship books. The Bulldogs are one of them. And the NRL itself is still to secure an official, naming rights sponsor, though a deal with Telstra is reportedly close.


The innovative Queensland Reds rugby team has stolen a march on its rivals by being the first sporting team to sign Virgin Blue as a sponsor. The deal is "only" worth a reported $1 million over three years – but the significance lies in the fact it is Virgin’s first foray into sporting team sponsorships in Australia.


Virgin Blue CEO, Brett Godfrey, can expect plenty of calls from ALF and NRL clubs following his comment that the Reds deal was "likely to be the first of several links with football teams."


Qantas pretty well has had the football sponsorship field to itself. And given the amount of travel football teams, and fans, undertake it is a lucrative field.


And the creative advertisers could have an absolute field day – the Virgin Knights (Newcastle), the Virgin Storm (Melbourne), or, perhaps worryingly, the Virgin Bombers (Essendon*).


The Reds seem to have a thing about travel sponsors – their sponsorship portfolio includes Queensland Rail, and Mazda, and now Virgin Blue.


But you have to wonder what the private school set, with the tweed coats with patches on the elbows, will think when they see the word "VIRGIN" emblazoned on the sleeves of the Reds players jumpers?

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

What with all the youth and vitality on the field and board room you have to admit we really fit the image of Carlton - The Virgin Blues, so how about it Mr Godfrey. This is a match made in heaven and a chance that is too good to pass up. Hell even give Richard Branson a seat on the board. We could do a lot worse than trying to set up an arrangement with Branson and the Virgin group of companies. Imagine the incredible ongoing press for both companies and the mutually beneficial branding possibilities. Come on! You know you want to!

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A Blues Supporter - not a Blues Bagger.

Agro great find you should call the club and let someone know. One would think they would already have their finger on the pulse on this but you never know and it cant hurt.. On the face of it I think its a great fit, particularly if the club starts to improve the branding for virgin could be worthwhile to be associated with a resurgence.

But "we have a full compliment of sponsors ".. how mant times have you heard smorgon and Malouf say that???... even Don Bagnato suits or whatever thiose suits are called... dont know why we didnt get Zegna anyway....

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Somebody sayyyy...........







SUIT.............?


kindest regards tommi

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that'siti'mnotchangingthistagain......!

Was told the other night that for a marketing department that operates with 2 or 3 staff we are ranked 8th in the league.

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Mjonc signing off at 8888

A Beyond Blue sponsorship would be more appropriate. I've been on anti-depressants since 2002.

Question guys. I swapped my internet provider to Optus yesterday as part of my support for Carltons sponsors. I did tell them that this was the case but I dont think they noted it anywhere. Do you guys get the same experience ? I think our sponsors need to know when we are using their services.

Good point Fevola.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

As mooted by Mordan in the We love Dick thread, let's hope some of our cost-cutting as far as staffing issues is concerned can be overcome with Pratt now on board.

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Agro - Qantas are not a protected sponsor of the AFL so should be good but as I have found in the past, the rules that relate to others get moved around when Carlton tries to take advantage.

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“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

Wonder if this will still happen now that Pratt is President. Will the AFL be so confident in pushing us around any longer - would think our days of being owned by the AFL will be a thing of the past.

I am hoping anyway!

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The glass is neither half full nor half empty. Rather the glass is twice as big than required.

The club has responded - and said they noticed this announcment by Virgin Blue and are chasing this one up.

I will give Michael Malouf credit where credit's due he always responds to any query or email.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

Virgin Blue's Sports sponsorship...

Super14 - Brissy
ARL - Rabbittohs


CAn't put my finger on what's missing?

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“Every single element of the Club has to be the best in the league, meticulously and methodically, and only by doing this will we be elite and challenge for number 17.”
Greg Lee

It seems a bloody obvious fit doesnt it

Would we sell our souls and become the "Virgin Blues"

bet we dont have too many of them on the list.

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

As I recall in 1997 we sold our Navy Blue Jumper for around $200,000 for one day to become the Light Blue M&Ms.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

And what a dark spot(or light blue spot) in the proud history of our jumper that is .

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Worn by luminaries such as Mick McGuane.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

Not to mention Rhino on his 50th!

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From little things, big things grow - Paul Kelly (The singer, not the Swan)

And Judas Hamill.

Of all the indignities we've suffered, having these two gumbys in the same team would go close to number one.

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Richard Pratt - A Carlton legend.