Thomas Wills is the President and CEO of Bonham/Wills & Associates. By 30, he was heading up one of the bigger players in the sponsorship, valuation, and negotiating world. Today, in part one in our series, "Sponsorship Essentials", he sits down with us and lends us valuable insight into the sponsorship and naming rights industry, (all done in 10 minutes or less).
The Negotiation phase is one of the most critical stages when forming a successful partnership. When you think of the meaning behind Negotiation, some may tend to lean towards the idea of a “win/loose” outcome. This idea may indeed be relevant in the real estate market, automotive sales or company buyouts/takeovers. But when it comes to creating a long term partnership within the sponsorship realm, no matter what side of the table you are sitting on, it is imperative that the “negotiation process” is a discussion utilized to build the strong foundation needed to support the relationship for years to come.
Naming rights occupy the highest point on the sponsorship pyramid and typically carry with them a number of major benefits for all parties included. This is why we will continue to see these investments increase across industry categories, sports and entertainment venues, events and properties around the globe.
