Locations Group engages Highlanders in sponsorship deal

Southland and Lakes District-based real estate company Locations Group is ‘engaging’ with the mighty Highlanders rugby side in a sponsorship deal described as a ‘win-win’ for both sides.

The ‘significant’ cash sponsorship, the Location Group’s first major foray into the sporting arena, is designed to build the company’s profile in the lower half of the South Island.

“The Highlanders work hard and play hard, a tight-knit bunch not to be challenged lightly and shaped by enduring values and honesty,” said Locations Group co-director Stacy Coburn.

“This sponsorship is a great fit for a service-led company like Locations. Skill, mix of experience and new raw talent, tactical planning, commitment and teamwork are essential to succeed in business and in rugby.

“In the same way that you need good, solid engagement between the front rows, property negotiations are all about good engagement between the realtor, buyer and seller, or deals don’t happen.

“This sponsorship is a great vehicle to bring Southland, Queenstown and Wanaka together as part of the Highlanders franchise, and the Highlanders also want to connect more with our region.”

Mr Coburn said rugby would be high profile this year, and the super rugby campaign kicked off a big year culminating with the Rugby World Cup.

“Fans will be closely following form or New Zealand teams and individuals, and this deal includes includes digital sideline signage at the Highlanders’ home games and extensive television coverage.

“Our Locations brand will also be out there on players’ clothing, on their website and wherever they play, whether it’s around New Zealand, in Australia or into South Africa. Those are all significant target markets for us in terms of established and potential buyers.”

Highlanders’ commercial manager Mike Kerr said they were “delighted” with the arrangement.

“We both pursue excellence in teamwork in our respective code and industry, and we’re delighted to feature such an established brand on our playing strip and other venue-based media.”

Locations joins an existing family of sponsors from Otago and nationally-based corporate businesses.

Locations plans to leverage the sponsorship with a number of short-life promotions to ensure fans get to fixtures hosted in Invercargill and Dunedin.

“Results are important and naturally we’d love to have our team in the finals come June, but we’ll prove ourselves to be staunch supporters no matter what,” said Mr Coburn.