Grassroots
sporting leagues and events are often considered to be the most traditional
means of participating in active sports that has since spanned into multiple
popular sports with tennis being of no exception, with further advancements in
the sports wider appeal expected to be contributed via sponsorship from a
number of suitable outlets.
Such
sporting events centred around grassroots have been gathering a greater
reputation and following in recent years which has seen a wider influx in
participants and attendees for games.
The
competitiveness and gritty nature is still often on display and the quality of
games present on the courts are still often up to a great standard in entertainment
for neutral spectators as well as being an expansive asset to help get more
locals involved with sports that they may not have much prior knowledge about.
Tennis
is a sport that has become much more viable and interesting to fans in recent
years including those at mainstream level which is so often represented in the
number of spectators present at major events.
The
sport is continuing to attract widespread appeal from various parties including
renowned sponsorship groups that can help represent major athletes and grow
their notoriety further amongst wider sporting fan groups.
Grassroots
sports are often considered to be a potential sector that most mainstream
outlets may occasionally overlook, but the addition of various advertising and
commercial ventures in sponsors may help to further elevate the sports reputation
with audiences and wider mainstream partners.
These
are some of the latest sponsors invested in grassroots
tennis and the reaping benefits
that such assets have provided, particularly focused around online.
·
What
major sponsors have signed with grassroots tennis:
In
an effort to further popularise and encourage more individuals to become more
actively involved in the sport, the reigning women’s US Open champion (Emma
Raducanu) has signed with major British telecom Vodafone as the brands
grassroots tennis ambassador.
Raducanu
will become the leading face of the new campaign titled ‘Play Your Way to
Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone’, which solely focuses on more individuals
becoming actively involved in the sport which is believed to be the largest
individual mass participation competition that the sport of tennis will have to
offer this year.
Signing
a name of Raducanu’s calibre is essential to appeasing to more fans of both
sport and other mainstream topics to become more involved in their local activities
and as such encourage people to participate in grassroots events.
Raducanu’s
partnership with Vodafone is certainly a key element in the often-considered
sudden uprise of interest and participation in grassroots tennis events, yet
there is still the pondering concept surrounding whether other major sponsors
maybe interested in signing up with other grassroots events, with online being arguably the liveliest option.
·
What
the introduction of online sponsorships could mean for grassroots
tennis:
Bookmakers operate out of variety of wagers
focused mainly on games and sports.
The introduction of a sportsbook
sponsorship for grassroots tennis could certainly help to encourage more fans
to participate in wagers relating to the product that they will be watching;
however the potential of sponsorships could be an even greater
assumption for all related parties.
Online sites such as
Virgin Games can offer fans a wide listing of games both from a digital platform and via live broadcast feeds from active
dealers, the industry as a whole has witnessed a significant upsurge of
active players in recent years and it is arguably the perfect opportunity for
more bookmakers to branch out towards grassroots sports.
It has been a significant struggle for
most grassroots sports to remain active given the ongoing pandemic that has
limited the number of spectators that are available to appear at events as well
as the decrease in participants due to lockdown regulations, meaning that such
traditional sports are almost solely reliant on the emergence of new
sponsorship deals.
Even sponsors at such a minuscule level
(meaning a lack of notoriety outside of their local region of origin), can have
a lasting impact on the longevity of grassroots sporting events and their
continuation.
Most clubs will often include local bar
or restaurants as well as a few minor sportsbooks around a ground/court as well
as in most programmes.
advertisements can also help
contribute to the growing rejuvenation of grassroots as the industry is now
more in need of such endorsements than ever following on from
an estimated average loss of 10,210
Euros per amateur club due to the pandemic.
While it is important for grassroots
events to keep all sponsors intact with local companies and businesses, utilising
a more regional endorsement can help the event raise to even greater providence
and gain more credibility as a potential viable event for more sponsors to take
a roll in.
Grassroots tennis events should remain
patient and vigilant for a potential opportunity that may arouse for an online sponsorship, mainly after the conclusion of the season as may
often offer a package that may last the entire year as well as asking for
advertisements on the events/clubs webpage.
These sponsorships can be integral
towards the promotion of the events existence and privileges that come with
such a valued partner, making online a perfect endorsement for any
grassroot event no matter what sport.
With grassroots sporting outlets now welcoming
all major parties and endorsements following on from the initial lockdowns,
sponsors could all likely stem to the investment in within a grassroot event as
tennis remains as one of the intriguing options.