Dublin announce new Megabucks Sponsorship deal
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AIG, the American insurance company that narrowly avoided collapse during the financial crisis, is the new sponsor of Dublin GAA.
The financial giant today signed a deal to sponsor the Dubs that is estimated to be worth €1 million a year over five years.
It brought forward the signing of the deal today following queries this morning from the Irish Times.
AIG, which needed an $85 billion US government credit line to avoid collapse in September 2008, the same month Lehmans Brothers collapsed, previously sponsored Manchester United.
The company offers a wide variety of insurance products in 160 countries.
Announcing the sponsorship, AIG Ireland General Manager Declan O'Rourke said: "This is a massive day for AIG in Ireland and we are thrilled to be associated with Dublin GAA. We are extremely proud to unite all the GAA family in the capital – Football, Hurling, Camogie and Ladies football – under one sponsorship brand, AIG.
"The future is bright for Gaelic games in the county, with strong clubs rooted in communities in the city, the suburbs and rural areas of county Dublin.
"As a sponsor, we hope to assist with the growth of Gaelic games and help Dublin promote these fantastic games which form part of the social fabric of Irish society.
"This sponsorship is a clear statement that AIG is committed to both the Irish insurance market and the Irish community for the long term. It solidifies AIG's track record of supporting amateur sport in Ireland.
"Dublin GAA is a huge organisation, supporting 92 clubs, 100,000 associated members, 320 active primary schools and organises 4,000 adult club games every year.
"As a passionate GAA supporter myself, I understand how important sponsorship revenue is to ensure that these structures are supported and to ensure GAA is promoted at all levels from GAA nurseries to the stars who appear in Croke Park."
Welcoming the deal, Dublin County Board Chairman Andy Kettle said: "This sponsorship deal is a really significant boost to everyone associated with Dublin GAA. The strength of the Dublin brand is illustrated by our ability to negotiate this outstanding sponsorship in a depressed economic market.
"AIG is a blue chip organisation with a proven track record in sponsorship and they are going to be an exceptional partner and they fully understand what we are trying to achieve in Dublin.
"The sponsorship revenue is critical in helping towards our expenditure on club coaching programmes and inter-county teams at all levels.
"AIG is also finalising their sponsorship activation plans which will promote GAA in the capital at all levels. We are very much looking forward to working closely with AIG over the next five years to ensure this partnership is mutually beneficial.
"This is an exciting time for Dublin GAA on and off the pitch. We have won the All-Ireland senior football title for the second time in three years and won our first Leinster senior hurling title since 1961 and have significantly increased underage participation levels in recent years. Attracting an organisation like AIG shows just how far we have come off the field."
AIG, who employ close to 400 people in Ireland, have over 150,000 policy holders in the country. Its principal products are car insurance, home insurance, travel insurance and commercial insurance.