Ladbrokes are to sponsor the 2015 Challenge Cup.

A step into the mainstream market (albeit one that divides people) can only be a good thing surely?

Thoughts?

I don't really mind who sponsors our competitions as long as they bring in some investment and publicity. I don't think it matters too much that it is a betting company, look at the amount of sponsorship from betting there is in other sports (shirt sponsors in football for example).

In the end, people aren't gonna dwell on it too much. You aren't gonna refer to it as the Ladbrokes challenge cup, you'll continue calling it the challenge cup like always.

In terms of a step into the mainstream, we did that with stobart and the super league, look how that deal turned out, having a bigger sponsor doesn't necessarily mean more money and publicity, we will just have to wait and see.

I've no problem with Ladbrokes sponsoring.

They sponsor darts already
William Hill sponsor Scottish FA and England Football games (and Darts too)
Skybet clearly have a lot of access through Sky Sports anyway.
Bet 365 even donate to the Labour party

So I don't think there is an ethical issue. Their money is good for me.

Top sponsor to have, one of the leading bookmakers, although they dont get my money as the prices are poor and stopped taking my bets!

good to have a recognised name on board.

Speaking to people in the media, Ladbrokes are also very proactive in providing promotional opportunities and publicity for competitions they are involved in.

They have a nationwide network of outlets, as well as a strong online presence, than can be used to market the tournament and the stars involved in it.

A positive step, not bad for a sport that is supposedly dying and a competition that nobody is interested in until it gets to the semis and final. (sits back and awaits arrival of resident trolls, armed with flaming torches of statistics)

Ladbrokes is a good name to have as the sponsor and it may just raise the profile of the cup if they splash some advertising either on line or in their high street betting shops.

Great news. Hopefully some extra cash for RL.

Hopefully some decent RL betting offers for the cup

DO you want to bet

Great News this.
Ladbrokes is a name that everyone knows and they have major High street coverage with wiki declaring 2,400 outlets across England Ireland (and Belgium and Spain??).
If it is, as I suspect, part cash up front and part % of bets, then let's hope that the RL community get behind this and if we are placing bets, we will do so through our new partner.
Just fished my Ladbrokes account card out of an old wallet.....let's hope they offer decent/competitive odds

I just read that the 2015 challenge cup final will be on 29th August which will be 120 years to the day that rugby league was founded in Huddersfield. Perfect opportunity for Ladbrokes to market the event and hopefully the extra significance can get some more people to the final, lets try to fill Wembley this year!

I agree it's good news to get a new household name on board, let's hope we can persuade them to do some RL themed TV ads