The world renowned European car manufacturer began its partnership with the club in March this year with a spectacular launch on football’s greatest stage, the MCG.
Port Adelaide Chairman David Koch said the club was thrilled with the partnership this season and is looking forward to building on the great relationship over the next couple of years.
“To have an established global company in Renault partner us this year gave the whole club a real sense of pride and value,” Mr Koch said.
“Renault has played a significant role this season in our strategic drive to broaden Port Adelaide’s brand within the national market and we look forward to building on that momentum well into the future.
“Renault has quite justifiably been directly linked to the resurgence of our club this year. Their brand credibility has been a big win for us and I know our success on field has been very good for them as well. 2013 has definitely been a win-win for Renault and Port Adelaide.”
Mr Koch thanked Renault for maintaining their commitment to partner Port Adelaide in March this year when the ASADA investigation into Australian sport could have easily allowed them to withdraw.
“Renault were about to sign on as joint major partner when the ASADA investigation was first announced,” Mr Koch said.
“For Renault to hold its nerve at that time and have faith in the Port Adelaide Football Club and more broadly Australian sport is a true credit to them. They signed within a week and Port Adelaide will never forget that and their belief in us as a club.”
Renault Australia Managing Director Justin Hocevar conceded that plenty had to be considered before rushing into partnering an AFL club.
“The decision for Renault to sponsor an AFL team was not an easy one,” Mr Hocevar said.
“There were many questions to answer. Was it the right partnership to reach the ideal audience? If so, which team was the right fit? With so much negative publicity surrounding the AFL at the start of the season was it better to just wait and see? They were all valid questions for a brand to consider before making a commitment of this magnitude.”
Mr Hocevar explained that Renault and Port Adelaide both consulted and systematically worked through these questions and arrived at point where, notwithstanding some risk, Renault was comfortable to progress and commit to a partnership.
“This partnership was possible because of the expert support and insight provided by Chairman David Koch, Chief Executive Keith Thomas and the broader Port Adelaide Football Club management team,” Mr Hocevar said.
“They demonstrated a clear vision of partnership, punctuated with the very tangible and pragmatic facts to support their vision.
“That not only provided us with the confidence to partner the club, but it provided us with a genuine belief that both brands shared a highly competitive spirit, a willingness to innovate and among many other qualities, a burning desire to rise up as a challenger brand.
“For this is exactly the path that Renault Australia has taken over the past three years, with outstanding growth and development to validate our own vision and beliefs.”
Mr Hocevar said the success of the partnership this year coupled with the joint clear vision of the two organisations enabled Renault to continue its partnership with Port Adelaide.
“It is with great pleasure that I confirm our continued partnership with the Port Adelaide Football Club for the next two years,” Mr Hocevar said.
“We are extremely pleased to be partners of the Port Adelaide Football Club and look forward to continuing to build on the successful ground work of 2013.”
