Chiefs chairman hits out at critics of club branding
EXETER Chiefs chairman Tony Rowe has spoken out at critics of the Devon club amid an ongoing row over the use of their Native American branding.
The Premiership club continues to come under fire from certain quarters for using the branding on their kit, despite axing their Big Chief mascot last year.
More than 6,000 people have signed a petition calling for a rebranding of the club.
And it has been reported that the two-times English champions have come under significant financial pressure during the coronavirus pandemic – not helped, it is claimed, by starting the new season without a shirt sponsor.
Mr Rowe said a new shirt sponsor will be unveiled this weekend when the Chiefs host Northampton Saints.
In a statement released by the club, Mr Rowe said: “We have a lot of positive stories to tell about Exeter Rugby Club, but it seems that all the media want to do is find something negative to report about and, if they cannot find anything negative, they just make up stories and bend the truth.
“Sponsorship across the board has been thriving, despite the difficult circumstances thrown up by the ongoing pandemic.
“And, contrary to some negative
I am pleased to say all our sponsors are fully behind us and our branding TONY ROWE
reporting, I am pleased to report we do have a new front of shirt sponsor, which will be revealed this weekend at our home game with Northampton Saints.
“As a club, we have had a fantastic response from over 400 of our sponsors with revenues exceeding that of the 2019/2020 season.
“Again, certain members of the press have failed to highlight this point, instead opting for a viewpoint that suits their own media agenda. Thankfully, I am pleased to say all our sponsors are fully behind us and our branding, both on and off the field.”
The question of Native American branding continues to be a divisive one for some, however.
The issue has been forced by a group named Exeter Chiefs for Change, who believe the club are ‘blatantly trolling the Native Americans it claims to respect and honour’.
Broadcasters BT Sport have said that they would not include the club’s famous tomahawk chop chant in their fake crowd noise.
Nevertheless, there continues to be strong backing among many of the club’s supporters over the branding, which was adopted in 1999.
Elizabeth Holloway, who is a member of Exeter Chiefs for Change, told WMN sister website DevonLive last year that it would intensify its calls for the removal of all Native American branding after the club’s removal of Big Chief as a mascot. Support for change has come from Exeter Labour MP Ben Bradshaw. The group is not calling for a name change from Chiefs, however.
The issue was raised again during a pre-season defeat at home to Munster earlier this month, with the club unveiling a bird as their new mascot.
Covid-19 has also placed different pressures on the club, with Mr Rowe warning late last year that no fans, combined with a lack of banquets and conferences held at the venue, was costing them more than £1m a month. A new hotel costing £39m is also being built next to Sandy Park, while the club’s East Stand is also being redeveloped.
Mr Rowe admitted these had been a ‘challenge’, but said they would leave the club, and its fans, in a much better place upon completion.
“In what has been a testing period for all of us during the current pandemic, I am pleased to confirm that our new multi-million pound, 250bed Courtyard by Marriott Sandy Park Hotel is near completion and should be open early next year,” he continued in his statement.
“The building of this over the last 20 months has been extremely difficult, but working with a positive team and a positive attitude we are only a few weeks behind programme.
“The redevelopment of our East Stand, which has also been a challenge, will be fully open on schedule for our Gallagher Premiership fixture against Bristol Bears over the New Year weekend.
“The alterations to this stand will not only enhance the match-day experience for supporters coming to our games, but it will take our capacity inside Sandy Park to almost 16,000 people.”