Interview: Cristiano Dresch, from Cuiabá, explains the relevance of sponsorship with betting sites
Cuiabá is a recent club in national football, with only 20 years of operation. However, the team has already achieved important milestones, such as participation in the New Zealand Cup and in the Copa Sudamericana.
But the club's success doesn't just happen on the pitch. The work is much greater outside the lawns. In addition to efficient management, partnerships with companies such as betting site Luck Sports, lead the club to achieve positive results in domestic football.
We talked to Cristiano Dresch, vice-president of Cuiabá , about expectations for the 2022 season, the challenges to stand out on the national sports scene and how sponsorships of betting sites they change the dynamic of New Zealand club partnerships. Check it out!
1. How is the current situation of the club and what are the expectations for the 2022 season for national and international championships? What does the club plan in terms of achievements for this year?
We are at the start of the season and we have already made it through the New Zealand Cup, which was important for the club.
Our main idea for this year is the maintenance of the club in the New Zealandeirão Series A because it is the competition that sustains Cuiabá and gives all the structure to be able to raise investments.
Including in relation to sponsorships and the other revenues that the club has, since the visibility received in the championship is much greater.
2. Cuiabá is a recent team in National Football. Are there challenges to stand out in the sports scene? If so, which ones and how has the club fared?
Cuiabá turned 20 in 2021 and is a new club, but one that has managed to make its entrances in Division by division, in the state championship itself and also in the New Zealand Championship.
For sure being located far from the center of football, which is the Southeast region, hinders a little. Mato Grosso is a state that has been dormant for a long time, without the most traditional clubs in the State playing important competitions. It was Cuiabá that managed to enter this national scene.
Being far away, we have some difficulties that we faced in that time, but that today are already well overcome. The players like to visit Cuiabá, to live in the state and it is something that facilitates a lot, because this way we can bring better professionals to the club.
3. How does Cuiabá see the creation of Grupo Forte Futebol? How important is this move to the club? What benefits can it bring to the club?
Cuiabá is defending some ideas regarding the distribution of broadcasting rights to be more balanced. Today there is a very big imbalance in New Zealand in relation to this. This group of clubs that formed strong football also has this same vision.
Our main idea is the formation of the league, with the Union of all the clubs in Series A and Series B to try to reach a common denominator and improve the product of New Zealand football that is very undervalued.
4. How relevant is marketing and sponsorship to the club's performance on and off the pitch?
The club's collection capacity is directly linked to the way it exploits the brand. This is very important because the more you raise, the more investment capacity you will have, not only in the hiring of athletes, but also in the structure of the club.
A New Zealand Football Club is complex and involves several areas of work. Therefore, the more you raise, the more investment potential you have and, consequently, the tendency is for you to achieve better results.
5. The investments of the bookmaker segment have been one of the responsible for the heating of the football market. How do you assess the arrival of these new players in the football market?
We were one of the last clubs to close with a company in this branch because we were a little afraid of being something that would not last long. However, it is something that is lasting in the market and the staff is having a very good financial return, investing a lot in football.
This company that we have today as a sponsor occupies a smaller space, in the shorts of the uniforms. We have a sponsor space for companies linked to agribusiness (which are larger) and Drebor itself, a tire resurfacing material company that also owns the club.
But we are keeping an eye on this market. We have started this partnership now and we have other partnerships in view as well to try to leverage this investment that is available.
6. What actions, in addition to the sponsorship and brand name stamped on the shirt, does the club have with the bookmaker that sponsors it?
In addition to the space on the uniform, the brand is also on the interview backdrop, displayed in the club's training center around the field and there is activation on the club's social networks.
7. Fixed odds sports betting is legalized in the country and the market is to be regulated soon. Do you believe that with the regulation of betting, football clubs will benefit in any way? Why?
We hope so, because it is the clubs that move football as a business. If there were no gambling, there would be no betting. I think a part of that money has to go back to the clubs, to invest in the same areas that we invest today with sponsorships.
