Ford has a long history of sponsoring all sorts of major events, including the Woodward Dream Cruise for a number of years, as well as the Conmebol Libertadores (“American Liberators’ Cup”) – an annual international club soccer tournament that is the largest sporting event in South America, and Expoagro – the largest open-pit agroindustrial exhibition in that same region. Now, Ford will also serve as the official sponsor of the La Unión Argentina de Rugby (UAR) – or the Argentine Rugby Union – as well, the automaker has announced.
Ford just inked a brand new deal with the Argentine Rugby Union to serve as its official sponsor, though it’s also a natural extension of the automaker’s existing commitment to that same sport in the same region. Both entities signed the agreement just before a match between Los Pumas and South Africa, with Martín Galdeano, president and CEO of Ford Argentina, and the former Puma and current president of the UAR, Gabriel Travaglini, present and accounted for.
The UAR is a national organization that brings together 25 unions and about 600 clubs from all over the country under one umbrella, with Las Yaguaretés, Los Pumas, Los Pumitas, Los Pumas 7’s, and Argentina XV all representing it. UAR also implements courses and trains athletes, coaches, medical staff, physical trainers, leaders, and families, seeking to promote the development of sport at the national level, in addition to teaching new players of all ages.
Already a sponsor of the Argentine Golf Association and the Argentine Surf Association, Ford hopes that its new relationship will only further that mission in a part of the world where it’s undergoing a major transition. However, Ford has had some sort of relationship with rugby in South America for 12 years now, as it has supported the teams of the Rugby Union of Buenos Aires for quite some time as well.
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Comments
FORD has time and money to get mixed up with spectator diversions but not fix their quality and customer service trouble.
Ford has so much money that an American company can throw millions at a South American sports team – that’s why the prices on these vehicles are so damn high. Plus they are using their exaggerated pricing to fund all their EV BS that will end up falling flat because there is no electrical infrastructure to supply the demands all these EVs will create, especially during blizzards, hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. This is what happens when a feeble, old man with dementia is elected to run this country and these CEO’s are trying to kiss his butt, just like Mary Barra at GM.
You said it exactly on target. It wouldn’t be such a big deal if things were humming along at FORD with good quality and our country in better times. But FORD can’t even build police cars now because of short sighted management. So sports sponsorship is only a publicity stunt.