Carling - What actually happened?

[Mega Ross]

Well as a few more experienced goers will know carling used to sponsor reading/ leeds, which was great, among other things the cold beer exchange (insert holy angel sound). And drinking something, albeit still quite pissy but nowhere near as poor as tuborg which in my opinion is piss weak fizzy water.

I know they stopped sponsoring RnL a few years back but does anyone know why?

[jump]

When Mean Fiddler (the company that use to run it) split into 2 different companies Festival Republic (the people that run R&L in Mean Fiddler but now separate) decided it didn't like having a sponsor.

[Mega Ross]

Very informative, thankyou.

[The Mean Bean]

Didn't want it to be too corporate, but I'd take a few suits sweating about stats and figures if it meant we got cold beers back.

[dirtymookie]

But festival republic could still get a better beer supplier than Tuborg who (as ross said) supply fizzy pish. Who would people prefer as their supplier?

[The Mean Bean]

But festival republic could still get a better beer supplier than Tuborg who (as ross said) supply fizzy pish. Who would people prefer as their supplier?

[Mega Ross]

Red stripe. No questions asked.

It's a good pricepoint, a reasonable strength and a good strong refreshing lager taste.

Edit: John smiths would be good for a bitter tap, though I'd probably scrap taps altogether and go with bulk cans in an effort to make it cheaper for the consumer.

Only trouble with cans is keeping a reasonable amount cold for a working bar serving 80k people, may need better staffing but thats free so it's not exactly a poor move.

Edited July 13, 2011 by Mega Ross

[dirtymookie]

John Smiths!

[Sparticus]

If it really was that they didn't want a sponsor, the only reason that can be is that it's made it easier to justify constant inflation in ticket price.

[Mega Ross]

Now that I think of it, who is running the bars and where the f**k did they study? They're imbeciles, this is basic management stuff.

They need to do market research and get some relatively accurate (circa 95%) statistics on what is prefered, I highly doubt it's tuborg and gaymers I'm willing to bet my middle nut on that judging by how unpopular they are in bars, then look at pricing and estimated sales figures projected over a 3 year period.

Once it's been established that they should monitor bar sales over 3 years and adjust accordingly, after 3 years another set of statistics must be acquired to determine whether the right beer is on sale at the right price to maximise sales and keep the clients happy.

Sorry to bore you with that but it's true, it seems bonkers to be selling what they're selling when they aren't into sponsorship deals.

[dirtymookie]

Now that I think of it, who is running the bars and where the f**k did they study? They're imbeciles, this is basic management stuff.

They need to do market research and get some relatively accurate (circa 95%) statistics on what is prefered, I highly doubt it's tuborg and gaymers I'm willing to bet my middle nut on that judging by how unpopular they are in bars, then look at pricing and estimated sales figures projected over a 3 year period.

Once it's been established that they should monitor bar sales over 3 years and adjust accordingly, after 3 years another set of statistics must be acquired to determine whether the right beer is on sale at the right price to maximise sales and keep the clients happy.

Sorry to bore you with that but it's true, it seems bonkers to be selling what they're selling when they aren't into sponsorship deals.

[mrtourette]

I much prefer Tuborg to Carling. Carling just tastes like meat to me, disgusting.

[Bradders]

I wouldn't believe the line about not wanting it to be too corporate. Tuborg WILL be paying to be the sole supplier. They'll do whatever makes the most money.

[The Mean Bean]

I much prefer Tuborg to Carling. Carling just tastes like meat to me, disgusting.

[Banana Co]

Crunk Juce!

http://www.crunkuk.com/

They have loads of these things in America and my cousin from Princeton said that, you drink one and your drunk for the rest of the night and that you won't pass out, unless you have loads. Haha!

[rexclark]

Tuborg and Carling are both piss. Stella all the way!

As for being commercial, I couldn't give a shit especially if it means more cash for the fest and a stronger line up.

Rockness is one of the most commercial festivals I've ever been to but it works as all the sponsors bring something. There's a Bacardi arena, A Jagermeister stage, Free Lucozade, A Drambuie Bar and in the past there's been The Sothern Comfort arena, The Rizla Bus and The Strongbow tent. All these things make the fest better even if it is hugely commercial. Sponsorship isn't always a bad thing.

[Banana Co]

Stella is for Wife beaters!

[mrtourette]

I wouldn't believe the line about not wanting it to be too corporate. Tuborg WILL be paying to be the sole supplier. They'll do whatever makes the most money.

[brettredmayne]

If there didn't want to be commercial lets let us bring in our own drink into the arena

[rivalschools.price]

Now that I think of it, who is running the bars and where the f**k did they study? They're imbeciles, this is basic management stuff.

They need to do market research and get some relatively accurate (circa 95%) statistics on what is prefered, I highly doubt it's tuborg and gaymers I'm willing to bet my middle nut on that judging by how unpopular they are in bars, then look at pricing and estimated sales figures projected over a 3 year period.

Once it's been established that they should monitor bar sales over 3 years and adjust accordingly, after 3 years another set of statistics must be acquired to determine whether the right beer is on sale at the right price to maximise sales and keep the clients happy.

Sorry to bore you with that but it's true, it seems bonkers to be selling what they're selling when they aren't into sponsorship deals.

[Mega Ross]

and thet would sell exactly the same amount. i cant imagine many people are hanging around reading festival saying 'im gasping for a beer but its the wrong brand so i'll do without'

Edited July 13, 2011 by Mega Ross

[mrtourette]

They need to make as much money as possible (it's been said that they need to be more commercial to bring in more cash to get a better line-up) while at the same time not compromising the effect on the punter too much so that they don't spend money. Tuborg and Gaymers are obviously wiilling to spend more than anyone to ensure that they are the sole suppliers of lager and cider and while people are still buying it then both FR and Tuborg/Gaymers are happy with the situation. To be honest it's more likely to be Tuborg or Gaymers that become unhappy with the situation first if their sales don't match what they're paying for the right to be the sole supplier.

It's similar with cigarettes, it's always been Marlboro stalls in recent years while is fine for me as I don't mind them, but last year it was Lambert & Butler which I hate so I made sure that I bought extra cigarettes with me so I didn't run out and have to buy L&B. As long as too many people don't do the same FR will be happy as they're getting money from someone to be the sole supplier of cigarettes and L&B are getting increased sales from bring the only supplier and the only option if people run out in or around the arena. As long as they get more in sales than they're paying to be there as well as their overheads then they'll probably be happy and I doubt FR would consider changing the lager/cider/cigarette provider based purely on whether they're actually considered any good or not, unless there's some sort of massive campaign to boycott the festival based on the fact that people don't like Tuborg (which I can't see).

Edited July 14, 2011 by mrtourette

[Benj]

It's all about money

Carlng pulled out of music sponsorship, hence no more carling weekend etc, etc

Tubourg fill the hole, I suspect they do beer at all FR events, a deal wouldve been struck that is advantageous to both parties, FR will receive monies from it, Carlsberg get to push their Tubourg brand at a certain demographic

The decision to bin a title sposor, or at least not to replace carling, could come down to simple branding, even people on here had started to call the festivals the Carling Weekend or CW, I doubt FR wanted to dilute the 'Reading/ Leeds Festival' brand further by having it known as X sponsor weekend, one that can easilly pull out, leaving them to then sell, what in effect looks like a brand new festival to the casual punter

[Mega Ross]

True about the cigaretters, bought 100g's of gv last year because it's possibly the greatest smoke I've encountered and it's lovely to roll. And I don't plan on paying extortionate amounts for 20 straights from a stall, especially when I find them harsh in comparison.

Though I did buy 20 l&b for £4 off some bloke selling them tent to tent, just for ease.

Edited July 14, 2011 by Mega Ross

[Dirty Boots]

Red stripe. No questions asked.

It's a good pricepoint, a reasonable strength and a good strong refreshing lager taste.

Edit: John smiths would be good for a bitter tap, though I'd probably scrap taps altogether and go with bulk cans in an effort to make it cheaper for the consumer.

Only trouble with cans is keeping a reasonable amount cold for a working bar serving 80k people, may need better staffing but thats free so it's not exactly a poor move.