I wondered how much of a hard sell the team would be to a sponsor when the team was already named?

don't naming rights come with the big $ sponsorships?

( i actually have no idea how PBR was set-up, or whether naming rights were on the table for potential backers )

Joel wrote:i guess the other problem they may have created for themselves, with respect to finding sponsers.. is the close association with NZ. might have been sponsers out there in other countries, but the close alignment with a NZ persona would cause issues.

I can't help thinking Emirates Team NZ.... Emirates has a close association with NZ through that now, so it can kinda work both ways? So sad a big name sponsor didn;t come along...

I'm notpro, but I enjoyed learning about the team and reading about them and what they got up to, kinda my introduction to how a pro team operates. I do hope the best for all involved, and hope no one got too burnt ($$) when it went/goes down. Sad for the riders as to timing too.

How about they flag the Cambridge Velodrome and pump the money into PBR, Save lots of coin and get more results !

Joel wrote:i guess the other problem they may have created for themselves, with respect to finding sponsers.. is the close association with NZ. might have been sponsers out there in other countries, but the close alignment with a NZ persona would cause issues.

good on them for trying though. gotta go for it.

This is the problem in my opinion. National pro-teams aren't the way to go although Rabo, Green Edge & Astana are probably examples - having said that, the main sponsor in Rabo & Astana are the name of the team. I will be interested to see how Green Edge go though.

Naming rights would be better from a sponsors perspective - anyway, all hindsight now. Gotta dream big and I loved following their progress. Just bad timing really - look at HTC.

I'm pretty sure naming rights were on the table - I think PBR was simply the name of the management team, used while hunting the big bucks in the same way Highroad or Leopard are/were.

No so "happy times" behind the scenes in PBR

http://en-gb.facebook.com/benny.devcich

so does PBR now select National teams for Nations cup events? Or do the contracted rider stand aside when Bike NZ wants particular riders to race. Will be an interesting model.

Hey John, when you list 'scientist' as your occupation what is it you actually mean, I thought you were sports coach?

I am.....but that doesnt pay the bills. I work in Forest Science. working in wood quality/ genetics and other fun stuff.

Dont quote me, and Im guessing..but I think its going to work by simply using those who race in Europe in amateur teams and simply bring them into the National team which may..go under the banner of PBR? Its a way of continuing a named team in collusion with BikeNZ and if done correctly and well could be a win/win situation...and if that means BikeNZ are investing in road along side PBR then that has to be a positive IMO

Gydey

johnL wrote:so does PBR now select National teams for Nations cup events? Or do the contracted rider stand aside when Bike NZ wants particular riders to race. Will be an interesting model.

From the article on Bike NZ's website http://www.bikenz.org.nz/Article.aspx?id=6667&Mode=1
PureBlack Racing will select and retain a team of cyclists who will compete for PureBlack Racing and Team BikeNZ/PBR and BikeNZ cyclists will be added to the squad for specific events.

So I'd guess that the BikeNZ riders being added in will be a "horses for courses" thing or to fit in with their own (presumably track) training programmes. Similar perhaps to the trackies that raced in Europe last year for base training etc?