Royal Challengers Bangalore Sever Ties With Kingfisher

Updated - 20 Feb 2018, 11:36 AM

Royal Challengers Bangalore (Credits: BCCI)

Table of Contents

Not only the team but Royal Challengers Bangalore will also don a different jersey in the upcoming season of Indian Premier League. For the first since the inception of the league, United Spirits premium brand Kingfisher will not find a place on the official jersey of Royal Challengers. Instead the franchise will sport a logo of cement brand Dura after striking a deal with them for the associate sponsor.

As per the deal, the Dura branding will appear on the back of the team’s playing kit. The spot last year was occupied by the United Spirit’s brand Kingfisher. Kingfisher’s “oo la la la la le o” campaign for years had carved a special place in the fan’s heart.

RCB sported Kingfisher at the back of their jersey for the first decade (Credits: BCCI)

According to media reports, a source close to RCB sponsorship sales insisted that the franchisee is in talks with a couple of brands for the title sponsorship. The Bangalore based franchise is reportedly seeking ₹20 crore for the title sponsorship. The current amount is close to 50% premium over the last year.

“This (₹20 crore) is a very, very realistic price for an IPL team jersey. RCB offers to its sponsors much more than most of the other franchisee. Brands are realising that what it means to have their logo on say a Virat Kohli jersey,” said a source. “Overall too there is a certain appreciation in the IPL property values.”

Last year, Mobile manufacturing company Gionee had paid ₹14 crore for the RCB title.

Gionee was RCB’s title sponsors last season (Credits: BCCI)

Improved show:

The Royal Challengers had a dismal outing last season. They had finished at the bottom of the heap after winning just 3 games. With the core of the team intact for this season, they would be eyeing an improved season.

RCB had finished last in the last edition (Credits: BCCI)

They had retained Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Sarfaraz Khan. In this year’s auction they bought players like Chris Woakes, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Umesh Yadav.