Rebel’s Bounty proving to be an effective fundraiser
AFTER plenty early year fanfare but no little scepticism from some quarters, the Rebels’ Bounty looks set to reach and exceed its targets as the first draws now stand just three weeks away. The Rebels’ Bounty was set up to replace the “old club draw” with proceeds going to assist clubs and county players.
At the time when the Rebels’ Bounty was launched at the back end of 2020 Cork GAA stated: “The proposed new system is designed to maximise return to clubs and is part of the overall drive to raise revenue for reinvestment at local and county level. It will also give clubs an opportunity to generate funds at a time when traditional methods are restricted because of COVID-19” and now those promises look to have come to pass as with just over three weeks of sales still remaining, there is already in excess of €1m in profit allocated to the clubs.
The Cork County Board have stated that “the vast majority of clubs have exceeded their minimum sales targets, with 100% commission on all remaining sales going to the clubs.” On March 25 the first draw will take place (covering January, February and March) and there will be 90 lucky winners (30 per month) winning prizes from €20,000 for first to €150 for 30th.
The Rebels’ Bounty is expected to see over €500,000 given out in prizes this year from now to the end of 2021 with one lucky winner scheduled to take home €100,000 in the final draw of the year, next December. The initiative by Cork GAA is designed to support clubs as well as Cork players.
With over three weeks of sales still remaining, there is already in excess of €1m in profit allocated to clubs after the vast majority of clubs have exceeded their minimum sales targets, with 100% commission of all remaining sales going directly to the clubs.
At the initial launch, clubs were given sales quotas to reach before they could begin to profit from the €100 tickets with senior clubs having to sell 100, intermediate 70 and junior 50. There was some resistance from a host of smaller clubs as they would likely find it difficult to reach the target in order to benefit financially from the plan.
News that €1,000,000 has already been earmarked for the participating clubs will go some way to easing concerns, but as is always the case when the dust settles some clubs will benefit more than others.
Ticket sales for Rebels’ Bounty 2021 will close at 5pm on the evening of March 25, when the draws for January, February and March will take place. After this date, there will be no further entries to the draw for Rebels’ Bounty 2021. After the initial draws the clubs will look to see their cash reserves boosted between March 29 and April 2 when the proceeds of online sales will be transferred to clubs. The minimum sales target will be deducted in advance.
While all the macro financial signs look good for the Rebels’ Bounty it would be wrong to suggest that all clubs and all members are convinced by the initiative as many believe “the burden being placed on smaller clubs” is unfair. That said, the Rebel’s Bounty looks set to be a success for 2021 at least - and that in itself is a positive in a year with little else to cheer.