Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

GM signs on as Manchester United's auto sponsor
Chicago Tribune ^ | 31-May-2012 | Ben Klayman

Posted on 05/31/2012 11:09:04 AM PDT by TopDeadCenter

Terms of the five-year deal, announced in Shanghai on Thursday, were not disclosed. GM is hoping to piggyback on Manchester United's fan base of an estimated 659 million people to boost its Chevy brand, especially in such growing Asian car markets as China, where the soccer club has 108 million fans.

"If our aspirations are to build global icon status for Chevrolet ... soccer far and away is the world's biggest sport," Paul Edwards, GM executive director of global marketing strategy, said in an interview. "Manchester United stands head and shoulders above the other teams in terms of scale, brand value and their legacy in the sport."

The announcement comes about two weeks after GM said it would drop ads both on Facebook, due to low consumer impact, and during next year's Super Bowl broadcast, as the projected price tag -- $4 million per 30-second spot -- was too high.

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: general; motors; soccer; sponsor

1 posted on 05/31/2012 11:09:08 AM PDT by TopDeadCenter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: TopDeadCenter

The Hammers.


2 posted on 05/31/2012 11:12:44 AM PDT by DonkeyBonker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DonkeyBonker

Oops, got my Monty Python mixed up. My bad, that is actually West Ham United.


3 posted on 05/31/2012 11:27:26 AM PDT by DonkeyBonker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: DonkeyBonker

United is going to need the money to compete with their cross-town rivals.


4 posted on 05/31/2012 11:28:30 AM PDT by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: TopDeadCenter

All the statements about Man U are absolutely correct. They’re also reasons why the club should have nothing whatsoever to do with GM. It’s sort of like Renoir being sponsored by a solid waste removal firm.


5 posted on 05/31/2012 11:32:48 AM PDT by ArmstedFragg (hoaxy dopey changey)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ArmstedFragg

It’s almost as bad as bleedin’ Budweiser being the Official Beer of the FA Cup.


6 posted on 05/31/2012 11:35:05 AM PDT by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

True that.

And another years worth of whatever Scholes is drinking.


7 posted on 05/31/2012 11:36:26 AM PDT by ArmstedFragg (hoaxy dopey changey)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

Well at least Bud has that imported beer distinction....


8 posted on 05/31/2012 11:48:45 AM PDT by ArmstedFragg (hoaxy dopey changey)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: TopDeadCenter
Lets see what is wrong with this deal:

It was signed not in Detroit or in Manchester, but in Shanghai, China.

If GM can afford to shell out $$$ to Manchester United, why not give the $$$ to the US TAXPAYERS!!

The Glaziers (the owners) are morons (they own the Tampa Bay Bucs)

9 posted on 05/31/2012 1:19:32 PM PDT by ExCTCitizen (If we stay home in November '12, don't blame 0 for tearing up the CONSTITUTION!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TopDeadCenter

I do believe that soccer will replace American football in another generation or so. My teenage son barely watches the NFL any more. He used to be a HUGE fan of Donovan McNabb and the Eagles, but all he and his friends talk about nowadays is European soccer, especially the Premier League. Combine that with the liability issue due to concussions and other injuries, and I think the days of the kind of football we grew up with are numbered.


10 posted on 05/31/2012 2:09:19 PM PDT by ccmay (Too much Law; not enough Order.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson