Posted on 12/07/2005 4:01:45 PM PST by abb
New Orleans officials think they have found a way to show that the devastated city still can throw a wild party: selling the rights to be "official sponsor" of the next Mardi Gras for $2 million.
For the first time since New Orleans began holding Mardi Gras parades 150 years ago, the city government is planning to aggressively solicit corporate sponsorship to cover the costs of police overtime, street cleaning and other city services that make Mardi Gras possible, as well as help pay for a national advertising campaign. Within the next few days, New Orleans officials are expected to seek formal proposals from possible sponsors, and the winner could be chosen as soon as a week later.
Members of the Mardi Gras krewes, or social clubs, pay for their own floats, costumes, bands and trinkets through dues and fund-raisers, and New Orelans has an ordinance that forbids corporate sponsorship of parade floats.
Instead, the official Mardi Gras sponsor will get the exclusive right to Webcast from dozens of parades and parade-reviewing stands for eight days in late February, according to a "sponsorship proposal" from New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin's Office of Economic Development. The perks also include spots for riders on parade floats, "inclusion in all press announcements" and "right of first refusal" to sponsor Mardi Gras again in 2007. Under the city's plan, smaller-scale sponsorships also will be for sale for $12,500 to $250,000 each, offering graduated benefits such as the number of placements in print, television and radio ads.
New Orleans officials have ruled out offering a title sponsorship, in which a company's name would appear before the words "Mardi Gras." And corporate names won't appear on floats.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
NO NO NO! Mardi Gras should NEVER be commercialized.
They should auction this on ebay.
After brief soul searching I find old parental training precludes topic comment.
mc
Why doesn't the rap industry just go down and make a show of it?
After I posted this, I had a brainstorm for a money-making idea - maybe Louisiana could sell sponsorships for its politicians....
But then I remembered they've been doing that for years....
Playtex, Trojan, Gas-X, Pepto-Bismo, Lysol...
Why don't they try this hard to seek corporate sponsors for rebuilding? Instead of whining to the feds?
LooterGuy.com ? Heineken? Rubbermaid plastic tubs division?
You forgot KY Jelly and Vasaline!
New Orleans Seeks Corporate Sponsors For Mardi Gras
---Screw Mardi Gras. I thought homes and jobs were needed? Priorities, people. Party AFTER you get homes and jobs. If elections can't be held, how or why is Mardi Gras? Which is more important? If the people can come back to party why not to vote or get a job?
Well, how about the Girls Gone Wild company?
That would be a good fit, but I doubt that they have $2 million.
Playboy might work, but they probably don't have $2 million, either.
I think Ray Nagin's folks might be just a little too ambitious. "Clean" corporations won't touch this, but you might be able to get a lot of little sponsors.
I'd rather sponsor a float, like the Rose Parade, but apparently that's illegal? Silly, since I think that would raise quite a bit.
D
New Orleans officials say sponsorship revenue is essential to salvaging Mardi Gras. The financially destitute city, which has been forced to lay off workers, expects to spend roughly $4 million on city services during Mardi Gras. City officials say a successful Carnival season would demonstrate the resilience of New Orleans and prove that the city is prepared to handle large events again.It would appear that they already have enough to run it. If it would cost $4 million, and they have a 6% sales tax (or more), and if revenue declines by 50%, we have $110m x 6% = over $6m in tax collections. The government should actually make a profit."This event drives our economy," Mr. Collins says. "We need to send a message to rest of the world that we're open for business." Mardi Gras drew an estimated 1.4 million visitors and generated $220.5 million for the New Orleans economy in 2003, the latest year for which figures are available. The windfall spreads to hotels, caterers, florists, banquet halls and costume designers. Some companies take in most of their annual revenue during the event.
No reason to cancel or to change the event in any way ... right?
D
I think they would, and for more than $2m, too.
But they're not soliciating alcohol companies, which is pretty silly in my view - surely the event is saturated in the stuff no matter who sponsors it?
Anyway, see my other message - they really shouldn't need sponsorship at all.
D
*ping*
haha...oh yes they do....but the founder was recently manraped by a burglar.
>>>That would be a good fit, but I doubt that they have $2 million.
Not to be old fashioned ... but isn't that ... illegal? LOL
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