Shell exits cricket sponsorship

Shell exits cricket sponsorship
New Zealand Cricket - 15 June 2001

New Zealand Cricket and Shell New Zealand Limited today announced the end of the most enduring sponsorship in the history of New Zealand sport.

For the past 25 years Shell has been synonymous with the New Zealand summer through its sponsorship of domestic first-class and one-day cricket.

New Zealand's premier domestic competition has been known as the Shell Trophy since the summer of 1975/76. The one-day competition for the Shell Cup was launched in 1979/80.

In announcing the end of the association New Zealand Cricket's Marketing Director, Peter Dwan, paid tribute to the longevity and enthusiastic support of domestic cricket by Shell.

"Shell has been with New Zealand Cricket for 25 years. They invested in first-class cricket when we were a fledging Test nation and they have seen many of the players they supported through that investment go on to perform great deeds for New Zealand.

"Glenn Turner, Geoff Howarth, John Wright, Richard Hadlee all served their apprenticeship in a domestic competition that was revitalised by the Shell sponsorship. Our own operations manager, John Reid, played his first season of first-class cricket that summer and remembers well the impact of Shell's involvement.

"Four years into its sponsorship Shell was quick to recognise the popularity of the new one-day version of the game and extended its involvement to the launch of the national one-day cricket competition which was to become known as the Shell Cup," Dwan said.

Peter Dwan said New Zealand Cricket understood the change to Shell's philosophy which had resulted in its withdrawal from the sponsorship.

"For the past few years Shell has been refocusing its sponsorship portfolio to concentrate on sustainable environmental projects such as WWF, Earthwatch and Massey University Wildlife Fund; and on a social agenda with their support of Barnardos, the Special Olympics, and Project K."

Peter Dwan said Shell's withdrawal from cricket had been signalled well in advance to New Zealand Cricket allowing the search for a replacement sponsor to be initiated.

"Typical of the partnership style that has developed over the years between New Zealand Cricket and Shell, we were given plenty of notice of Shell's withdrawal. This has allowed us to pursue a replacement sponsor.

"New Zealand Cricket is in advanced negotiations with another party for sponsorship of the domestic cricket competitions. Although a contract has yet to be signed, we are confident that this will be finalised in the near future," Dwan said.

"Shell have been an outstanding sponsor of domestic cricket for a quarter of a century. On behalf of all the players, officials and fans, New Zealand Cricket wishes to thank Shell for its loyal and sustained support of the domestic game."

Teams	New Zealand.
First Class Teams	Auckland, Canterbury, Central Districts, Northern Districts, Otago, Wellington.