velu Posted April 9, 2015 Posted April 9, 2015 With the IPL set to start, UK-based liquor major Diego has withdrawn its support to IPL team Royal Challengers Bangalore. Diego holds a majority stake, 55 per cent, in the company United Spirits Limited (USL), which was once owned by Vijay Mallya. USL's flagship whiskey brand Royal Challenge has been taken off from the RCB jersey as well, reports Bangalore Mirror. The jersey was unveiled on Sunday, and not only has RC been bumped off, none of the USL brand logos— McDowell's and Whyte and Mackay — were present. Ironically, Diageo's withdrawal from all things IPL comes at a time when Mallya's influence over the team has been weakening. The liquor baron is at the helm of the team only by virtue of being the director and chairman of RCB, a subsidiary of USL, rather than a co-owner. "Mr Mallya's stake in the USL is five percent most of which, we understand, has been pledged to the banks. He is involved with the team simply in his capacity as chairman of the RCB sports management company. The team belongs to USL and there is no ownership by Mr Mallya at all," confirmed a Diageo official, in the report. The 8th edition of IPL begins at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Tuesday. RCB will play their first match of the league against the Kolkata Knight Riders at their home ground Eden Gardens on Saturday. As of now, the only brand associated with Mallya on the jersey is Kingfisher. Meanwhile the USL website still cites RCB as a team they sponsor. The website reads, "RC is the proud partner to leading IPL teams like Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pune Warriors India, Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab." However, according to this report by Mumbai Mirror, USL is trying to seek sponsorship from elsewhere, while officials claim the withdrawal from RCB is part of a new marketing strategy. "If the USL brands used to advertise in the past, they used to do so on a paid basis. This year they have changed their whole ways of marketing and strategy. After the new management took over, they have refocused their investment," unnamed sources at RCB said in the report. The change in marketing strategy has reflected in their withdrawal from the White Mischief cheerleaders as well. Diaego said that the vodka brand's sponsorship of the cheerleaders goes against the moral philosophy of the company. "The whole platform itself is changing for the White Mischief girls. Diageo has a clear marketing code where we are clear about sexual success and social success for women. It has to fit into that. There is also a big change in the kind of marketing that White Mischief is doing. That is not a reflection of IPL per se but how White Mischief has changed its marketing strategy over the last year and a half," a company official said in this Pune Mirror report. USL's withdrawal from RCB could potentially be good news for JSW chairman Sajjan Jindal, who has reportedly been eyeing the T20 team. JSW's sport unit, called JSW Sports and is supervised by Sajjan's son Parth Jindal, already owns the football team Bengaluru FC. :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical: http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/cover-story/The-Royal-Challenge-goes-out-of-Mallyas-RCB/articleshow/46830769.cms
velu Posted April 9, 2015 Author Posted April 9, 2015 :rcb: Not a royal Not a challenger Not even a Bengaluru :rofl:
G_B_ Posted April 9, 2015 Posted April 9, 2015 So whats the team name now? its still RCB its just that, that name rings hollow when the reason they are called that is no longer the case.
Desi Cartman Posted April 9, 2015 Posted April 9, 2015 its still RCB its just that, that name rings hollow when the reason they are called that is no longer the case. They should rename it to Kingfisher :giggle:
bulbul Posted April 9, 2015 Posted April 9, 2015 They should rename it to Kingfisher :giggle: we will rename it to AAP :giggle::giggle:
Desi Cartman Posted April 9, 2015 Posted April 9, 2015 we will rename it to AAP :giggle::giggle: :dontknow:
bulbul Posted April 9, 2015 Posted April 9, 2015 :dontknow: Honest team unlike cheater CSK :dontknow:
Malcolm Merlyn Posted April 9, 2015 Posted April 9, 2015 Poor Mallya.Losing one of his last remaining marquee assets.Dont know why Diageo wants to withdraw from cricket?
Ironhide Posted April 9, 2015 Posted April 9, 2015 Never knew Mallya has been hit this bad in his business, i thought his Alcohol business was well insulated from his airlines business but looks like he had to sell most of the shares of his crown jewel.
bulbul Posted April 9, 2015 Posted April 9, 2015 Poor Mallya.Losing one of his last remaining marquee assets.Dont know why Diageo wants to withdraw from cricket? They have some ethics , one of the main reason they stopped sponsoring cheer girls :cantstop:
Malcolm Merlyn Posted April 9, 2015 Posted April 9, 2015 They have some ethics ' date=' one of the main reason they stopped sponsoring cheer girls :cantstop:[/quote'] Daaru bechne mein bhi ethics.LOL.
velu Posted April 9, 2015 Author Posted April 9, 2015 Honest team unlike cheater CSK :dontknow: pay the debt and then talk about honesty :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:
Number Posted April 9, 2015 Posted April 9, 2015 Who needs cheerleaders when you have eye candy Anushka there. :--D
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