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The Western Force will have the backing of the most loyal fans in Australia this season with membership renewals hitting a record number. The same positive sentiment has extended across an impressive sponsorship portfolio as the club looks towards their first home game of the 2011 campaign tomorrow night against the Sharks.
The move to a rectangular playing venue last season and a number of heart pounding victories against the likes of the Stormers and Crusaders obviously struck the right chord with members as they rushed to renew their memberships at an all-time high.
The club’s famous ‘sea of blue’ continues to build with 14,719 season ticket holders already signed up while the membership team continues to field increased interest from prospective Emirates Western Force members.
While a rectangular field configuration that truly lets you ‘Feel the Force’ has been a key element in the outstanding membership results to date, so too has been the added value of becoming a member in 2011. This season there will be eight blockbuster games in Perth, more than ever before, while membership prices have remained at last year’s levels, delivering a whopping 33% more value for free!
“We have a wonderfully loyal member base. In achieving this record renewal rate they have certainly voted with their feet and given a huge tick of approval following our move to a venue where the action is only meters away,” RugbyWA CEO Vern Reid said.
“The ‘sea of blue’ is a significant driving force behind our organisation and we welcome them back in significant numbers for a new season which will see even more of the world’s best provincial rugby being played in our own backyard.
“There has been extremely positive sentiment following our opening performance of 2011 and we look forward to having the stands full at our first home game this Saturday against the Sharks,” Mr Reid said.
Emirates Western Force partners have also shown outstanding loyalty and commitment to the code with a significant number of sponsors upping their investment in rugby.
Bankwest, who last season joined as the official ‘Happy Grassroots Partner’ of rugby has added apparel branding to their portfolio and will appear on the front of the club’s playing and training shorts. Bankwest has also become the official partner of the Bankwest Rugby Academy programme which provides a dedicated pathway for talented players in the state.
Leading health provider MBF Health Insurance, who has been with the Emirates Western Force since the club’s inception, has also continued their association. The renewal of MBF Health Insurance is a coup for the club following a review by MBF of their sponsorships in WA which resulted in funds being redirected from other sports franchises to numerous alternate projects however their rugby presence was maintained.
Award winning wine producer Vasse Felix has joined as the official wine partner while Diageo, supplier of products including Bundaberg Rum, have maintained their level of commitment to rugby in WA by renewing with the Emirates Western Force despite reducing their commitment to rugby at a national level.
The close knit relationships developed between the club and its partners as well as the successful activations and leveraging has led to a further 16 partners renewing and embracing the opportunities provided by rugby and the Emirates Western Force.
“The strength of the Emirates Western Force brand and the ability to deliver a strong return on investment for our partners is evidenced in the fact we have been able to build relationships that have extended over a number of seasons,” Mr Reid said.
“Rugby in Western Australia would certainly not have been able to prosper in such a way had it not been for the support of our partners who have shown their dedication to the development of the code from the grassroots through to the elite programme.
“On behalf of RugbyWA and all of our constituents we are enormously grateful for the contributions made by our corporate partners and are excited about the opportunities to work together in 2011 and into the future,” said Mr Reid.
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Was the wait worth it - Ya betta baby 
Originally Posted by GIGS20
