Worcestershire CCC have acquired another major partner for the 2015 campaign with leading car dealer, Worcester Audi, becoming the county's back of the shirt sponsor for the LV = County Championship.
The Audi brand will be highlighted on the 150th Anniversary Shirt in four-day cricket and will gain extensive exposure this season in cricket's top flight and at the various Test playing counties which make up Division One.
Audi's tie-up follows on from Worcestershire securing a three year kit deal with Canterbury.
The Audi dealership in Bromyard Road, Worcester offers a wide range of new and approved used Audi vehicles, all offering great deals and competitive finance options to suit all desires and budgets.
It can also provide details on small business and fleet purchases and there are dedicated Audi servicing and parts teams on site.
Phil Bligh, head of business at Worcester Audi, said: "We've looked before at being involved with the cricket and the timing now, with the club celebrating its 150th year, is just perfect timing.
"With the facilities at the ground and the team being newly promoted, what better time for Worcester Audi to join up with Worcestershire County Cricket Club.
"We are proud to be sponsoring the four day commemorative shirts.
"It is a club on the up and, when I met Jon Graham (Worcestershire CCC commercial director), his enthusiasm was really good and that's what is all about.
"At the moment the deal is for one year. If we can agree something after that, then fantastic."
Graham said: "We've been pretty close to Worcester Audi for the last 18 months. We did an initial deal last year with them so they had a couple of advertising perimeter boards, bits and pieces of advertising in the County 365 magazine and other things.
"It was very much a 'let us show you what we can do' with a view to maybe doing something with a bit more profile if we did a good job – and that's where we have got to.
"I'm over the moon to have them on board and this is a substantial commitment by Worcester Audi. It's a brand that is going from strength to strength.
"We are about proving there is value in sponsorship and advertising and Phil (Bligh) has been impressed with how the name of the club is mentioned a hell of a lot more now than it used to be.
"We feel that if you look at the profile of our members, they are potential Audi customers. In sport, if you've got a brand associated with your club, some people feel compelled to support it.
"If that helps to sell a few cars for Audi, then brilliant, but it's also about them getting their brand out there so, when we are doing our grand tour of the country to all the Test playing venues in Division One, then the Audi brand will be in there from Worcester."
Graham added: "The key for us is having just launched our kit deal with Canterbury, a major global brand, is trying to get more brands like that associated with the club.
"That's not to say that all of our local sponsors aren't important because everybody is as equally important as everybody else.
"But again it's perception outside of Worcestershire for us and, when we are on TV, then it's great to see our shirts having a really good mix of sponsors.
"The LV = County Championship kit is a historic kit, a one-off.
"It's great to have Canterbury making it and now it's great to also have a leading brand like Audi on the shirt as well."
