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CAUGHT NAPPING -- Doggies lose naming rights sponsor
By Greg Barila
Elizabeth Oval has reverted to its old name after NAP Finance decided against renewing its naming rights sponsorship for a fifth year. Central District Football Club has confirmed the naming rights arrangement for its Goodman Rd headquarters has ended and the club is looking for a new sponsor.
NAP state manager Gary Stewart, a passionate and lifelong Dogs' supporter confirmed his family's home loans company had decided against retaining the naming rights for the 2006 SANFL home and away season but would continue to be a major sponsor of the Dogs. "(But) at what level, we don't know yet," Mr Stewart said.
Neither the footy club or NAP Finance would disclose how much the four-year naming rights deal had been worth to the Dogs. Mr Stewart said the Adelaide-based NAP Finance had become a national company since signing with the Dogs, with interests in Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory. "It's unfair to spend such a large proportion of our marketing dollars in one area. I don't mean any disrespect, I still live in the northern suburbs."
Mr Stewart said being a high-profile sponsor of one club was restricting the company's ability to do business with other parties, particularly with other SANFL clubs. "We alienated ourselves from eight other league clubs becasue we'd been approached by other clubs for sponsorship," he said.
Mr. Stewart said he and younger brother Nathan had felt a personal conflict in ending the naming rights deal with Centrals as both were lifelong supporters. "The whole family is," he said. "We both were raised in the northern suburbs, went to school there. The initial sponsorship, to be completely honest, was based on emotion, absolute emotion. We loved the club and loved them with a passion."
For personal reasons NAP Finance would continue to support the club financially, Mr Stewart said, but without the profile. Central District director Glen Armstrong said the club fully understood NAP's decision. "They have to spread their advertising budget, of coure, across the eastern states now," he said. He said the decision would not hurt the Dogs financially, even if the club could not find a new naming rights sponsor for 2006.
"Obviously we'd like to (find a new sponsor) as soon as we possibly can, it may not eventuate at all," he said. "Our sponsorship in season 2006 is growing financially on the back of our three premierships in a row. Our sponsorship will more than cover the oval naming rights because they're (NAP) continuing on, don't forget, as a major sponsor." Mr Armstrong said the club has scheduled a series of Saturday night games under new lights in 2006, which may be a drawcard for a new sponsor.
SANFL general manager football operations Glen Rosser said football clubs could call their home grounds whatever they wanted. "It makes no difference to us," Mr Rosser said. He said 'Elizabeth Oval' had been printed in the 2006 draw for Centrals home games and it was too late to amend it, even if the Dogs secured a new naming right sponsor for the new season.
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Good thing they're not completely out of the picture... so much for 'kraP PAN', eh U LEGS?
