225 000 euros for logo change
As reported some ten days ago, the Basque government's Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism is threatening to pull its 475 ooo euros-a year sponsorship of the team unless the 'Euskadi'-logo on the team's attire (picture above) is changed into white. How much that would cost the manufacturer? 225 000 euros.
El Diario Vasco claims to know that Moa, the company that makes the team's apparel, will have to cough up the huge sum mentioned above to satisfy the Ministry. In addition, Astore, manufacturer of the team's leisure wear, will have to come up with up to 150 000. Of all the team's sponsors though, the Ministry appears to be the only one to have an issue with the 'Euskadi'-logo.
The newspaper claims that the sponsors got together for a meeting after Euskaltel's presentation in late January. Of the ones present, that being the delegations of Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa and Álava, Skoda, Orbea, Euskaltel and the Basque government, only the latter had an issue with the logo. Why the Ministry suddenly felt the urge to request a change is not known - but it certainly couldn't have come at a worse time for the already cash-strapped outfit.
6 comments:
Im getting really fed up with the Basque government at the moment. Ever since the pro - Madrid government won the election, they have been annoying Euskaltel and Basque cycling. I don't want to dwell on nationalistic issues and want to stress I don't support anything even remotely related to ETA at all, but it is getting tiresome. Basically they have reduced sponsorship for Euskaltel and for the Basque races to pay for the Vuelta a Espana.
And now this. This is just petty child play to blow up an organization that for years stood inbetween the association of the Basque country as a region as opposed to a terrorist cell. If that's not advertizing the region, nothing is... It's getting up my nose this stupid behavior.
Yeah it seems petty that they are upset about the color. They should have enough respect for the riders and team to let them chance it next year when everything is being redone...
FWIW I find it much more likely that someone high up in the ministry paid brand consulting agency a silly amount of money and it naturally follows that it reflects badly on him if the new logo is used on letterheads and advertisements but a different logo in wrong colours and letter type on Euskaltel-Euskadi jerseys...
I understand that local governments everywhere in Spain (and not only in Spain) are facing budget cuts and since it must be admitted that it is far more important to for instance have enough cash to pay doctors and nurses, there is no reason why sponsorship of cycling races or teams should remain untouched.
PS yesterday I wore my orange kit when I XC-skied and tomorrow I'll take my road bike for the first outing of the year. The seasons look a little bit different here in Finland.
PPS any idea where (on the net) I could buy an Orbea Odin helmet in the correct colours?
It is annoying - but I have to say I understand the logo thing. Threatening to pull the plug on their entire sponsorship seems slightly childish though.
The Odin helmets are hard to get a hold of in the right colours - perhaps this site http://www.breninbikes.co.uk/inc/sdetail/674/684?
Love Brenin's idea of a sale, £8.04 discount on a £150+ helmet!
Strange distribution Orbea have given the size of the UK market these days, the stuff is very hard to get hold of- and only a true obsessive would go to Market Drayton to buy one, its the back end of nowhere.
Team kit is very hit and miss too with anything other than shirts/shorts being poorly stocked.
As for the logo issue, brand awareness is is one thing but given the dissapointing showing from the team so far they may as well consider any publicity better than none!
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