SARACENS CHIEF EXECUTIVE Edward Griffiths delivered a masterclass of innovative thinking on rugby matters at Sports Marketing 360 – coining a smattering of memorable phrases along the way.
Below, Frontloaded lists some of yesterday’s highlights from a sports administrator with a unique take on the rugby business (and not including his advice on how to find a wife).
On club philosophy:
“We look after people unbelievably well, and in return they work unbelievably hard. If we keep that as our primary goal, we will win more than we lose. “
On Innovation:
“Do something different…there are no bad ideas, just ideas we won’t do again.”
On global thinking:
“We would have liked to have taken a Heineken Cup match against Munster to New York.”
On event marketing:
“Make every week special….sport is the fun part of people’s lives.”
On the Allianz Stadium naming nights and shirt deal:
“Why on earth would Allianz, risk averse and the largest insurance company in the world, invest in English club rugby? They maybe have seen what others aren’t seeing – the potential to build a dynamic sports organisation in north London within a sport this is going to grow exponentially over the next few years."
On the potential for the 2015 World Cup and Rugby 7’s at the Rio Olympic Games:
“We’re a bit like a surfer out in the deep water, looking out on the horizon for the big waves coming along… And there are two huge waves coming towards rugby.”
On player recruitment:
“Other clubs have a United Nations policy of recruiting players, we concentrate on England and South Africa “
On the Heineken Cup dispute:
“There is a rebalance in club rugby that needs to be addressed.”
By Matthew Glendinning
Follow Matthew on Twitter: @mattgeln