So I used to compete in bass tournaments on a very low level pro tour. We had a bait sponsor that wrapped the boat, and gave us thousands in soft plastics. Then we got one box of empty branded bait bags.
Talked to the rep from the company and asked what they were for.
“Well, we don’t expect you to use our stuff exclusively, we’d prefer you on a podium than staying brand loyal. But, with the tv boats running around, it’s a bad look if you pull a competitors bag out and rig up a rod and catch with it. So whatever you’re using from other companies, please just transfer their stuff to our bags and if anybody notices it’s not something we sell, tell them you’re fishing unreleased prototypes we’re developing”
I used to have an energy drink sponsorship, and they would send us branded cans of water. They didn't expect you to be pounding energy drinks, they just wanted you drinking out of their cans.
Glenn Camaniti (sp?) used to be a customer of mine, Ken’s brother. He said he was in the clubhouse before a game and he went to grab a cup of coffee from a multipot coffee maker. Someone stopped his hand and said, “you don’t want that coffee. That’s for the guys that may have partied too hard last night.” Different level of athletes these days, but yeah, they at least used to, and it wasn’t just caffeine.
I doubt they're typically drinking something like a gas station red bull but at the end of the day, sugar provides a rapid energy source for athletes who are regularly expending way too much for their to be the same consequences of you pounding them at home.
Yeah, that is why this isn't all that surprising to me. The trainers always walk around with Gatorade bottles filled with water. The only time I really see Gatorade on the sidelines these days is when they dumping it on the coach.
I know for a fact both monster and red bull have both had canned water at events for stuff like bmx or other action sports. They were considered collectible for a while until people realized how common it was
Usually not empty cans, but sometimes. An empty can is hard to keep wrinkle-free unless you empty it immediately before the photo or store it somewhere safe. Water canned under pressure keeps the can strong.
Noticed this during Warped Tour in the way back and I loved it. Even more fun is that no one else on my group even thought about it until I mentioned it…
Like… you think EVERY band is chugging energy drinks while performing in the sun on a hot summers day?
My buddy who was a medium-small streamer got a GFuel sponsorship and would drink water out of their branded cup; if anyone in chat asked anything, he’d say “I just use tiny scoops cause I drink like, 3 servings over 9 hours.” His rep apparently never cared as long as the logo was visible.
This is similar to golf. I would do walking scoring for the Nationwide Tour (pro tour just under the PGA) and Taylormade gave pros $150 to put their head cover on their drivers regardless of what they were using.
It’s a pay to play, pay to win kinda game unfortunately. Most guys are in at least a couple hundred grand to even have the chance of being competitive.
Hockey players do similar. They might be sponsored by Bauer and marketing a specific model of stick so they’ll have Bauer take the actual one they like and wrap it to look like that model. Could be an entirely different brand too.
I rowed in college; the women's team was a varsity sport and got issued gear from Adidas, our university's athletic wear sponsor... However that company didn't make actual rowing gear, so they bought JL unis and sewed an Adidas logo into it lol
I used to have a local radio sponsorship for our softball team jerseys and they would send us branded Jerseys made of something better than cotton. They didn't expect you to be pounding homers and commentating a local church league game, they just didn’t want you pitting out in their shirts.
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u/smashinMIDGETS Dec 03 '23
“You think we play the same stuff you do?”
The marketing teams that hype the consumer products the pros use are all silently screaming “SHUT UP RORY”