Chicago is a sporting city and will put on a big welcome for the novelty of rugby internationals taking place this weekend.
When the dates were picked though for Ireland to play the All Blacks and the Maori All Blacks to take on USA Rugby nobody could have imagined that the city would be quite so consumed, and probably hungover as a result of sport in another sphere.
Last night The Chicago Cubs broke a 108 year drought, and one of the most famous curses in sport when they won the World Series beating the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in the 10th innings, after a rain delay.
To the uninitiated that will sound as much of a story as Pythagorus’ Theorem recited in Hebrew. But for those with an appreciation for the history of sport, and especially for the sports fans of the Windy City this is as big as it gets.
Curse
When bar owner Billy Sianis cursed the team after he and his goat were expelled from Wrigley Field in 1945 little did those around him think it would take 70 years and millions of words of analysis and hokum to bring back the title.
That they should do so a mere 70 hours before the Ireland All Blacks game kicks off is poor timing as regards the build up and the local coverage but boy oh boy will the city be on a high.
It will certainly be a weekend of heightened emotion and memories for the players, management, travelling fans and the AIG team who are throwing substantial resource behind the event as part of their sponsorship of the All Blacks and of USA Rugby.
“AIG have a busy schedule with a four day program covering eight individual events with over 300 people including AIG’s executive leadership, leading clients and brokers from around the US and the Irish travelling contingent of management, clients and brokers,” said AIG Sponsorship Manager John Gillick speaking last night to Sport for Business.
Event
“This is AIG’s biggest global sponsorship event this year and has been in the planning for over 12 months.”
“We are also working on the ground with the All Black’s and New Zealand Rugby on CSR events in the local communities.”
“There are a host of media events during the stay and part of this is to help promote rugby in the US which is a key objective of AIG’s in sponsoring the world’s best team and global rugby brand.”
“For the Ireland games we have a massive programme through November which takes in a host of events starting with the Maori All Blacks v Munster, the All Blacks v Ireland and then the All Black Ferns v Ireland in the Women’s international.”
Activation
“We plan to activate around each game with PR media events, commercial hospitality events, staff events, training access and captains run events.”
“On top of this we have a packed social media calendar across all channels with content capture a major part of our plans.”
“We will also get the All Ireland winning football team to go head to head with the rugby world cup champions at a skills challenge that should make for interesting viewing.”
“In terms of being the sponsor of the opposing team and being on the other side, it does pose some challenges especially if results go against us like in 2013 when we pulled our All Blacks TV ad after the crushing last minute defeat to the All Blacks to deny us an historic win.”
Positive
“Overall though it is all positive as the All Blacks are generally the second favourite team in most territories including Ireland and have a mystic aura around them that draws and engages people and rugby fans in general.”
“For the Irish management team it’s just a question of balance between the head as sponsor of the All Blacks as the most successful team in rugby history and the heart which wants Ireland to win.”
“Just don’t say that too loud around any All Blacks!”
It promises to be some few days in Chicago.
