No games naming sponsor yet

Dunedin Masters Games manager Vicki Kestila. Photo: Peter McIntosh.
Dunedin Masters Games manager Vicki Kestila. Photo: Peter McIntosh.
The 2018 Dunedin Masters Games is yet to find a naming rights sponsor and is heading for a loss.

A Dunedin City Council meeting this week was told a $46,000 loss had been forecast for the games.

Games manager Vicki Kestila said while ''unfortunate'', it was not unusual for the games to be without a main sponsor this far out from the February 2018 event.

At the meeting, staff told the council robust discussions had been held with the New Zealand Masters Games Trust about the lack of a naming rights sponsor.

The trust was working ''really hard'' to find a potential sponsoring company, Ms Kestila said.

No companies had been approached yet. However, a shortlist of possible local and national naming rights sponsors had been drawn up.

Ms Kestila said the trust did not expect the council would have to underwrite the $46,000 deficit because it had $102,000 in reserves.

If a naming rights sponsor was not found, the games would still go ahead.

At last month's World Masters Games in Auckland, efforts had been made to bolster entries in the Dunedin games.

Dunedin staff had a booth at the entrance to the Auckland event and spoke to many competitors, Ms Kestila said.

The trust hoped to attract a further 1000 competitors, up on the 5000 in 2016.

''I think the city could cope with between 8000 and 9000 though. The more the better.''

The trust hoped to secure a naming rights sponsor before the games were launched in August.

margot.taylor@odt.co.nz

Comments

Could Vicki Kestila please break down the costs of entering any event!

I would possible be interested in entering if the cost dropped.

Personally I have no interest in getting a tea shirt or a cheap bag.

 

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