‘Hugely unhappy’ Holden reviewing sponsorship of Collingwood over Eddie McGuire comments
One of the biggest sponsorship deals in Australian sport is under threat with car maker Holden confirming it is reviewing its deal with AFL club Collingwood in the wake of president Eddie McGuire’s comments about a female journalist on radio last week.
In a statement, Holden said McGuire’s comments during a live radio segment on TripleM “call into question the culture of the club” saying it “prides itself on diversity, inclusion and social responsibility” as “cornerstones of our business”.
“Among the comments broadcast last week at the Big Freeze fundraiser at the MCG were statements by McGuire that we would pay for Wilson to be dunked in cold water, saying: “I reckon we should start the campaign for a one-person slide next year featuring Caroline Wilson and I’ll put in 10 grand straight away, make it 20. And if she stays under, 50. What do you reckon guys?”
The deal, thought to be worth north of $3m-per-year, provides Holden with naming rights on Collingwood’s headquarters, while coach Nathan Buckley sports a Holden logo on his collar during press appearances. It was renewed for a three-year term last season.
Collingwood is one of the most supported clubs in the country across any code with 55,000 signed-up members, although this season’s numbers are 20,000 down on last year’s record highs as the club has struggled more on the oval in recent times.
Last night McGuire issued yet another apology over the incident, this time on the Collingwood website, in a two-and-a-half minute piece to camera in which he admits it “could be seen as men in a pack mentality attacking a woman”.
He adds: “I’m long past thinking of Caroline as anything but Caroline Wilson. Gender has never entered my head in terms of the role she plays. In fact I hired her for her role on Footy Classified as she was the best person for the job”.
He also said he was going to make a “personal contribution” to a domestic violence charity.
Speaking with Fairfax media Holden spokesman, Sean Poppit, said the company is “hugely unhappy and extremely disappointed” with McGuire’s comments.
In a full statement, the company said: “Holden categorically disapproves of Eddie McGuire’s inappropriate comments, along with those of his co-hosts. Holden prides itself on diversity, inclusion and social responsibility – they are cornerstones of our business and culture.
“Comments like these, regardless of their intent, have no place in today’s Australia and reflect poorly on the Collingwood Football Club, its fans, stakeholders and sponsors. Unfortunately, it can call into question the culture of the club, overshadowing good work done in the diversity space and local communities.
“Holden is engaging with Collingwood to express our disappointment directly and discuss our sponsorship.”
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Eddie McGuire is a dinosaur and has no place in modern media, he just bullies anyone that threatens or speaks out against him.
He’s got to go
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Eddie McGuire is just a sport-ified Kyle Sandilands. Same dish, different flavour.
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Why would Holden support Collingwood through Eddie comparing Adam Goodes to King Kong, anti-Muslim comments, homophobic comments, stereotyping the Greater Western Sydney area, etc, etc but then dump them over this? It is offensive to suggest drowning someone (male or female) – but is it as offensive as the other rubbish he regularly says?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/201.....es/7525802
#GetEddieOffTheMic
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Eddie has got to go
Good on Holden for speaking out and doing something!
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Get rid of him. He deserves to go.
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The comments he made re Adam Goodes & King Kong should have been sending alarm bells off at Holden HQ. Why is everyone so surprised by this?
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This time the thought police are Holden.
Holden waffles on what it deems ‘appropriate’ and ‘inappropriate’ words. God spare us from such sanctimonious claptrap.
If Caroline Wilson was a man would we wouldn’t have such confected outrage.
Eddie cracked a joke. Nothing else to see here, folks. Move along.
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Those social media vigilantes all have hammers, looking for nails. They look big because they are noisy. This is the latest episode.
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Holden are the real winners out of this. How can they lose in any of the scenarios?
1. Sponsorship withdrawn
Great, saves $3m. Holden get plenty of recognition and accolades, value of sponsorship offset by publicity.
Opportunity to re-invest the sponsorship dollars with another club / elsewhere, where additional publicity also ensues.
2. Sponsorship reduced / augmented
Collingwood seek to appease Holden in order to retain sponsorship. Back door deal sees an additional x% in value afforded to Holden. Holden still gets publicity and recognition for making a stand on the issue.
3. Sponsorship unchanged
Holden still make a stance. Collingwood forced to apologise, granting additional publicity to Holden. Holden maintains its illusion of anti-DV / sexism and benefits from the short-term lift in mentions, sentiment etc.
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