The Festival of Sails naming program / tiered partners sponsorship program has opportunities for you which will deliver a range of sales, marketing and communication outcomes.
We are aware the days of sponsors forking out dollars for a seat at a table, a flag and a banner are over. Social Media and time spent online has changed the way in which sponsors interact with your brands. We acknowledge your Return On Investment and the strength and future of the event are reliant on our delivery of a clear, contemporary communications strategy. And we are intent on sharing with the world, your alignment with our great history and our collective story as the Festival unfolds.
An event of this calibre is only as brilliant as its’ key sponsors. So why should you get involved? This historical and premium nature of the offer are both self-evident. A rare opportunity to experientially market your brand; a wonderful chance to create a team building platform – within a festival atmosphere, supporting your internal communications platform.
With a high level of local community, council and government engagement and a global reach through social and digital media, the Festival of Sails represents a phenomenal chance to promote your brand to a number of different market segements during this major Victorian event. The Festival of Sails naming program / tiered partners sponsorship program has the ability to deliver a range of sales, marketing and communication outcomes. So why not jump on board Victoria’s Festival of Sails.
Opportunities exist across all areas of event sponsorship, including;
Principal Sponsor
Single OVERALL Naming Partner owning ‘naming’ properties of Regatta and Shoreside Festival. This forms the highest level of corporate sponsorship of the Festival of Sails. The principal partner will be recognised in the naming of the event in the following manner or similar, The Festival of Sails, proudly presented/brought to you by ‘Your Company’. The principal partner will be licensed the top level naming properties to all Shoreside and Regatta elements of the event and will ‘buy-out’ all Major Sponsor levels.
Major Sponsors
In lieu of a principal partner, up to three (3) major sponsors may be sold for the individual elements of the Event. Should the Event not secure a Principal Partner, the naming of the separate aspects of the event will be offered to individual corporate sponsors. The individual properties are as follows:
- Festival of Sails – XYZ Regatta Geelong or XYZ Race Week Geelong
- Festival of Sails – XYZ Melbourne Invitational
- Festival of Sails – XYZ Community Festival
Major Partners
Currently held by contracted Government supporting bodies, namely; State Government of Victoria (Victorian Major Events Company) and City of Greater Geelong. Major Partners will be made up of Government funding bodies that support the event through provision of cash sponsorship and ‘Value In Kind’ services. The main strategic drivers for these parties are:
- Economic Impact
- Precinct Activation
- Tourism
- Community Engagement
- Healthy Active Lifestyle
The Festival of Sails is currently funded as a Victorian Major Event under the State Government Major Event Cap, due to the economic impact and status for the State of Victoria. The long standing support from the Victorian Government through the Victorian Major Events Company and Sport and Recreation Victoria, has enabled the event to continually grow on a National and International level. The long term (over 16 years) vision and support of the City of Greater Geelong, has seen the merging of two separate local events (The Geelong Waterfront Festival and the RGYC Australia Day Regatta) to form and event which sits comfortably on the global stage. The Geelong based Shoreside festival is delivered under contract from the City of Greater Geelong. The long term strategy of the event is to grow the festival to a longer duration further activating the Melbourne end of this Victorian event, to complement the already successful Geelong home activity.
Event Sponsors
This category covers a number of Sponsorship properties which will be equally represented as Event Sponsors. This level of sponsorship allows corporations to be aligned and engage with the very distinct facets of the event and differing demographic groups. All event sponsors will be recognised at the same level and will have the same inclusions, but will be differentiated by their individual area of sponsorship. Event sponsors will be broken into the following divisions;
- Race Series & Trophy Sponsors
- Venue Sponsors, Official Function Entertainment & Stage Sponsors
Media Partners
Contracted relationships with media outlets and marketing channels. The event is seeking the support of suitable media partners to achieve the marketing & promotional objectives of the event and sponsors. As such the following media partnerships are being developed:
- Mainstream Print Media Partner (with online presence) – ideally the single partnership will have a representation in the Melbourne and Geelong Markets, with the ability to leverage interstate editorial and potential advertising opportunities.
- Radio Partnership – currently the event has a successful partnership with Grant Broadcasters and their local Geelong stations Bay FM & K-Rock. The event is looking to leverage this partnership to gain access to the greater Melbourne market (although Grant Broadcasters do not have a Melbourne station).
- Boating Media – The event is seeking the support of boating specific media outlets to promote the event to the boating community and report results and event news.
Official Suppliers
Contracted suppliers of products and services to RGYC and the event. The event will recognise and promote the products and services of the Official Suppliers to the event in return for financial and VIK support of the event from the supplier.
Licensed Exhibitors & Service Providers
Suppliers licensed to operate and supply their good and / or services to the event participants and visitors within the Event precinct. All exhibitors and service providers who wish to display and promote themselves during the event are required to pay a siteholder/exhibitor fee to the event. They will be promoted via a list of exhibitors in the event marketing channels.
For further details and information, please contact the Event Commercial Manager, Jav Greaves on
(03) 9004 4688 or jav@newtack.com.au or download Festival of Sails Sponsorship Prospectus below.
