SGCC Appeal For Support For 2021 Cup Match
“This is an appeal to our corporate community and our community at large to get involved and help us,” St. George’s Cricket Club said, adding there is a “marked lack of support in private viewing plot bookings and corporate sponsorship” and the “2021 Cup Match Classic may not be broadcast on local television.”
A spokesperson said, “The Executive Committee of the St. George’s Cricket Club is very proud to host the Annual Cup Match Classic this year. However, we would like to inform the public of many factors that have made this return to our beloved annual showcase event an extremely difficult one.
“The social restrictions and protocols related to the Covid-19 global pandemic have created prohibitive conditions for staging large scale sporting events throughout the globe over the last 18 months. This year will therefore represent not only a return to the very best Bermudian holiday event that is staged each year but also a concerted attempt to move our entire society closer to some semblance of normalcy.
“This event is woven into the social fabric of our country. The friendly banter, and build up to the competition seems to put an extra pep in the step of our fellow Bermudians. At a time when there is extra concern around declining emotional health, the buzz of Cup Match would be an uplifting reprieve as we navigate beyond the pandemic.
“We want to commend HSBC Bermuda, the lead sponsor of Cup Match, and the Government of Bermuda for their steadfast efforts to ensure that the 2021 Cup Match Classic would be allowed to happen. We have been working closely with Government on this path toward the return of Cup Match, and they have been accommodating on many levels. Dr. the Hon. Ernest Peets, JP, MP, Minister of Youth, Culture, and Sport, deserves special mention for his tireless determination in this worthy endeavor.
“The difficulties mentioned above have come in the form of a marked lack of support in private viewing plot bookings and corporate sponsorship. Many of our usual sponsors responded to the Somerset Cricket Club’s [SCC] original announcement that they would not be accepting our annual challenge by reallocating their funds to other interests in the belief that there would be no Cup Match for a second consecutive year. This has been the case with several important sponsors, including our team sponsor and our communications sponsor, and has created a financial shortfall.
“Therefore, this is an appeal to our corporate community and our community at large to get involved and help us get our country on the path toward community recovery by partnering with us to stage a high- quality, festive mid-summer event. We still have corporate viewing plots available, and the opportunity to sponsor the team is very much in play at this time. Please contact us at sgcc.cupmatch@gmail.com or romeo.ruddock@gmail.com for information on pricing, location, space, and availability.
“We would also like anyone interested in securing a viewing plot for their family, friends, and ‘bubble’ to contact us as soon as practicable, as we have several 24×24 foot plots still available. We have been graciously allowed to accommodate up to 4000 patrons on each day of Cup Match, and we hope to fill the Wellington Oval with a lively, festive crowd worthy of this magnificent, uniquely Bermudian spectacle.
“This is a SafeKey event, but we have also been cleared to receive patrons who purchase tickets online and can produce a recent negative Covid-19 test result along with a Government-issued picture ID. This will be a requirement for visitors to our island who want to enter this event as well. Tickets can be purchased online at www.gpass.bm. There will be no entry at the gate without a pre-purchased
ticket.
“Lastly, we deeply regret to announce that the 2021 Cup Match Classic may not be broadcast on local television, as has been the custom over the last decade or so. This is not a situation that the St. George’s Cricket Club has any control over, and we invite any group with the capacity to broadcast the event to get in contact with us very soon. We are now two weeks away from the return of the Crown Jewel of any Bermudian summer, and we need to rally community support and participation for this occasion to be both what we as a community can enjoy and deserve.”
Update: As a note, the Government previously said they are “working with the organizers to provide the support needed to help make the annual Classic possible,” adding that this “includes providing funding and the necessary approvals. We previously asked the Government exactly how much funding is being provided and followed up again today, and we will update with an official response as able. While not confirmed, we do have indications the amount could possibly be similar to what has been provided in the past, which was $75,000.
Don’t worry – Burt will rescue you and claim it’s the PLPs money when it is our taxpayers money! I just want my 2 days off and I don’t care which persons name is on the 2 days nor about a stupid cricket game! Enough of the “I’m poor” claims. If you can’t afford it don’t do it! But don’t worry a Government grant is on the way!
why you lot couldn’t let this one go ?!?
now your begging for help to host it
you lot know full well it wasn’t enough time
never seen anyone so eager for licks
Queue the Government bailout from the Pee El Pee money tree (i.e. taxpayers).
Okay sure but I want to handle the money at the gate.
““The difficulties mentioned above have come in the form of a marked lack of support in private viewing plot bookings……………” reduce your Plot viewing prices and you may get more up take!
Not going to be televised ? Don’t say so .
Maybe you know who could step up and do it , but then again maybe not a good idea. It would turn out to be a 2 day history revisionist political racist hate fest.
Hmmm, so you want businesses to tag their name to an event that have the potential to cause massive spread of corona virus? You want a business to sponsor a selfish event that has the potential to have us go back into lockdown. The only one I can think of that will benefit would be testing lab.Every other businesses on this island suffers. Who else in their right mind would support this.
Everything has a market value. What the market will pay is what the product is wort
Plus, who wants to go to a super-spreader event?
Everything has a market value. What the market will pay is what the product is worth.
It looks like the market doesn’t think that cup match is worth what the club thinks it is.
The club has a choice. Drop the price & get something or stick to the price & get nothing.
The standard of cricket goes down each year so no wonder no one wants to pay and attend. 20 years ago, with the voice of summer commentating, it was a real community event with some talent. Now it’s a waste of time and money.
Who would really want to go? It’s a dump. When was the last time they renovated the toilets?
Asking for community financial support for a club who can not even keep toilets operational!
Asking for financial support and the toilets are still in poor working condition after many years; just laughable!
All of these sports clubs always say they need money but charge at the gate and at the bar. Where is the money going because it’s not in these clubs or to the community. Stop bailing out businesses that give an inferior product or service, doesn’t matter if it’s a classic tradition or not
“…Stop bailing out businesses that give an inferior product or service…”
I couldn’t agree more!!!
Taxpayer, ‘Public Dollars’ protecting ‘Private Profits’
How much funding is needed in order to pay for TV coverage?