China Cup 2008 is not just a sailing regatta, but also an international racing event and the only sports competition branded "China Cup". China Cup is a sports platform offering a major opportunity for global partners to generate more value for their own enterprises by offering a unique platform for sponsors to promote their brands to Chinese markets.
The following pages demonstrate what China Cup can offer you, some of the success stories from brands at last year’s China Cup together with an outline of packages available this year.
For more information please contact our sponsorship team (click here) or our agents, Sailhula, click here
Branding opportunities
Commercial competition is now a key figure at sports venues. Ever since the commercialization of sport, venues for each sport have become competitive places for commercial brands and enterprises. Companies commonly use branding and corporate promotion to match the image they want to portray. With the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, competition for sports promotion is expected to be intense. The Olympic Games have generated a major platform for sports promotion but the China Cup is offering a more targeted high-end commercial platform and branding opportunity for business partners outside of the Olympic Games. Sports are expected to be the focus of attention for all media in 2008. China Cup 2007 set the record of attracting more than 200 media outlets from home and overseas, to a single sports event in China.
A marketing platform for target audiences
Regattas have always been closely linked with the elite. Over the years, yachting has evolved into a popular sport among the wealthy. The America's Cup, the world’s oldest sailing race, is a club for the richest. Participating yacht owners include Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and Oracle founder Larry Ellison. The top global luxury goods supplier, LMVH, is now a regular sponsor of the America's Cup. With the wealth of its audience and participants, such regattas demonstrate high-end purchasing power. Investigation and research carried out before the launch of China Cup into the lifestyle and hobbies of the new wealthy in China shows that yachting has huge potential for growth in China.
Effective hospitality for external and internal stakeholders
China Cup will not only deliver lucrative returns to sponsors, but also create a valuable commercial platform for business partners. As in Europe and North America, China Cup will offer sponsors the use of its yachts for a variety of commercial activities such as hosting conferences and hospitality events. Yachts can be used by companies to receive VIP customers and hold commercial talks, or entertain their customers and own senior executives on commercial trips or sailing for pleasure. China Cup is also a meeting place for famous businesses, offering an opportunity for executives to network with other influential leaders.
Brand boost
In today's fast-moving multi-media environment, companies need to find ever more inventive ways to market their brands to key target audiences. China Cup as the world’s newest and most ambitious international sailing event provides a unique niche marketing opportunity.
Integrated Media Platform
The first China Cup began to attract media attention in January 2007 when a delegation traveled to France to purchase yachts for the One Design Class race. Since then, the event has attracted widespread media interest. More than 200 domestic media outlets and 70 overseas media representatives covered the event and cultural activities, including mainstream media represented by CNN and BBC and special media represented by the journal Yachting World. For business partners, the China Cup is a perfectly integrated media platform. Even greater media awareness and interested will be generated for the 2008 China Cup.
Data
Media: More than 100 media organizations provided live coverage of the China Cup, three quarters of which were mainstream media outlets with total circulations or audiences of more than 1 million each, including overseas authoritative media CNN, BBC and AFP.
Population exposure: China Cup 2007 brought great equivalent advertising value to sponsors through consistent exposure in press and media to an audience of 78.21 million people.
TV coverage: More than 15 television channels broadcast China Cup 2007.
Phoenix Satellite TV staged the Miss China competition during the race;
CCTV 2 and CCTV 5 reported on China Cup regularly;
Shenzhen TV broadcast the opening ceremony live and a recording of the closing ceremony;
CNN Mainsail produced a 20 minute programme fully reporting the event.
Outdoor advertising: Posters promoting the China Cup with a total size of more than 4000 sq m could be seen at most of the city’s expressway toll gates and downtown areas. More than 7000 flags and small posters were placed along urban trunk roads. More than 22,000 spectators attended.
China Cup 2008 offers four levels of sponsorship:
Global strategic partner: Global strategic partners will enjoy the greatest exposure to the media giving them the opportunity to boost their brands with targeted and long-term opportunities and will be seen as key supporters on all publicity, advertising and promotional materials. Global strategic partners will be able to use our Beneteau First 40.7s to host valuable hospitality and commercial activities.
Senior sponsors: Senior sponsors can enjoy brand promotion and marketing opportunities through a series of press conferences and media events during the regatta in addition to high profile exposure at the regatta venue.
Activity title sponsor: A wide range of activities including a range of arts and cultural events provide even greater sponsorship opportunities.
Official supplier: Official suppliers have a unique opportunity to promote their products and services to all participants at the regatta including crew, spectators, media, workers and volunteers allowing them to target key audiences.
Cultural activities
China Cup 2008 will host even more cultural and art events providing opportunities for sponsors to benefit from China Cup’s integrated media platform.
1, Sailing Programmes
China Cup will work with Phoenix TV to produce a range of sailing programmes, bringing together sporting, economic, cultural, fashion and media circles to promote the China Cup, nautical culture and lifestyle.
2,Opening ceremony
The spectacular opening ceremony will launch this year’s racing and will be attended by central and municipal government officials, sailing professionals from around the world and all crew members. It will feature unique performances and be broadcast live on Shenzhen TV.
3,Closing ceremony
The China Cup will be presented to the champion at the closing ceremony and prize-giving party. China Cup will work with China Central Television (CCTV) to stage a sporting carnival demonstrating Chinese culture and sailing lifestyle.
4,Marine ecology art space
Sailing is an environmentally-friendly sport. China Cup will offer a venue for artists from around the world to create works from natural raw materials. The works will blend various forms of art to raise concern for and call for conservation of the oceans.
5,Music Festival
Prominent musicians will create and perform pieces on the theme of marine culture and concern for the environment, leading the audience to experience music from nature.
6,Economic Forum on Sports Marketing
In partnership with 21st Century Business herald, leading economists, business people and financiers will analyse the sports marketing industry.
7,China Cup Celebrity Golf Tournament
The China Cup Celebrity Golf Tournament will provide an opportunity for intellectual discourse between political, business, financial and economic leaders.
