Is Sponsorship A Sin?
In the words of one marketer, "It's official. Nothing is off limits for sponsorship." Bookie Paddy Power's sponsorship of a Catholic church's confession box in Britain is raising more than a few eyebrows.
The Newmarket, U.K. church accepted £10,000 from bookie Paddy Power in return for sponsorship rights to the confession box, complete with renaming it the Paddy Power Sin Bin. Sponsorship funds will go to restoring the church.
Paddy Power said, “From our point of view it’s a great fit to sponsor a confession box in a church nestled in the galloping heart of British horse racing. We hope that over time confessing your sins in the Paddy Power confession box will become a tradition for Newmarket race goers!”
St Etheldreda Church's Priest Father Michael Griffin said, “Our church has felt for a long time that we should have closer ties with the horse racing industry in Newmarket. Through the generosity of Paddy Power this is now starting to happen.”
Here is Paddy Power's official explanation for the sponsorship via the company blog.
