PROMINENT Wagga pubs are adamant they will continue to sponsor sports clubs as best as possible, aware they need each other to prosper once the coronavirus pandemic ends.
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But they've warned it's unreasonable for teams to expect to receive the full amount of money they agreed to for this season with pubs also doing it tough.
The Kooringal Hotel sponsors nine clubs across a range of sports, including AFL Riverina's East Wagga Kooringal, rugby union's Wagga City, soccer's Henwood Park and Saint Michaels cricket.
Licensee Brendan Johnson is extremely confident all of those relationships will be maintained once life returns to normal.
"We're all in this together, and we'd like to come out of this together as well," he said.
"I can't see why I can't still have those nine clubs use the hotel's facilities and give them some money. There's way we can help these clubs on the other side, even if it's not just cash.
"We're a community hotel and community associations are very important to us, and we're very important to them.
"I'm hopeful on the other side I'll be in a position to say I can sponsor everybody still, but whether it's the same amount of money would depend on how much people are asking for.
"If everyone's willing to work with us, we'll work with them."
Johnson said clubs also have to be realistic in what to expect from sponsors this year, with pubs' income streams restricted to take away food and alcohol.
"I've spoken to a couple of sporting clubs already who are our major ones and they're supporting us the best they can," Johnson said.
"But they understand as well when we sat down and drew up the contract that if for some reason they can't supporting us (as much as usual), they realise the contract may change.
"That will be an individual conversation with each sporting club to see where they're at with their financials.
"We've already paid one of the bigger teams we sponsor for this year, quite a considerable amount.
"I'm close with the president and I know he'll be open to negotiating whether that will be a part payment for next year as well, there's a few things to look through."
William Farrer Hotel owner David Barnhill says clubs have to accept the goal posts have changed for 2020.
"We need to discuss what the options are but I think common sense will prevail with most teams and expectations of their venues," Barnhill said.
"I think you'll find most teams can't expect their sponsorship in full for this season.
"Obviously it will be a bit different this year, some competitions may not start at all or be shortened. But a big part of being a community hotel is being a part of the community, and there's no better way to do that than to support sports groups that support you."
Sporties co-manager Ben Stratton said the sports clubs they sponsor have been prominent in helping them through their enforced lockdown, and they're keen to repay the favour.
"We've got a relationship with these clubs and individuals and familiies, and they're the ones helping support us where they can with take away meals and buying alcohol," he said.
"We don't want to renege from our end."
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