Allan Border Launches Last Chance to get Day One Ashes Tickets through MasterCard.
Sydney, 9 November 2006 Allan Border, former Australian captain and selector, today launched a MasterCard promotion offering Australians the last chance to get tickets to the first days of the forthcoming 3 mobile Ashes Series matches.
The promotion was launched during the announcement of MasterCard as a new sponsor of Cricket Australia, at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney.
Border launched the promotion as Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland unveiled MasterCard as the Official Credit Card of Cricket Australia. The promotion gives MasterCard cardholders the opportunity to enter a ticket ballot to buy VIP tickets to the sold out first days of each of the five matches.
Border, a former member of the Cricket Australia national selection panel, also revealed his predictions for the Australian team for the first 3 mobile Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, which starts on 23 November.
Speaking at the launch Border said: “Australian MasterCard cardholders can register at ‘mastercardapplause.com.au’ to enter the ticket ballot. 75 cardholders will be randomly selected for each Test match and offered the chance to buy a pair of reserved seating tickets to the first day, with VIP hospitality in the Johnnie Walker Red Label Lounge.”
Border also announced that he has agreed to become a MasterCard cricket ambassador, alongside ICC ODI Player of the Year Michael Hussey. Border said of the position: “I am proud to be a cricket ambassador for MasterCard alongside Mike. MasterCard is a huge supporter of sport around the world and I’m willing to do anything I can to extend that support into cricket, especially Australian cricket.
“This three year sponsorship deal brings significant benefits to both the fans and the sport itself. It not only introduces new financial investment but also gives cricket exposure to MasterCard’s large cardholder base in Australia.”
Leigh Clapham, Executive Vice President of MasterCard Worldwide Australasia, said at the launch: “Cricket is regarded by many to be the national sport of Australia and we have wanted to be involved with cricket in Australia for a long time. When the opportunity arose to become the Official Credit Card of Cricket Australia, it was the perfect chance to do that.
“This sponsorship represents the first time that we have sponsored cricket in a significant way anywhere in the world, and I hope it to be just a first step into Australia’s most loved game.
“I am a huge cricket fan and through this sponsorship we can give other cricket-loving cardholders the chance to get to the first day of each 3 mobile Ashes Test match. But we can also get into cricket at the grass roots level through our association with Allan Border and Mike Hussey,” continued Clapham.
James Sutherland, Chief Executive of Cricket Australia, said: “We are pleased to announce MasterCard as the Official Credit Card of Cricket Australia. MasterCard is a global brand renowned for its involvement around the world in sports such as football and golf.
“This is the first major move by MasterCard into cricket sponsorship, which is great news for cricket, and especially for us here in Australia. Cricket in this country is going from strength to strength and public support of our team and interest in the game have never been stronger.
“Cricket Australia is in great shape for the season ahead, coming on the back of our ICC Champions Trophy victory. And furthermore Australian players won the Player of the Year, Test Player of the Year, ODI Player of the Year and Women’s International Cricketer of the Year awards at the ICC Awards in Mumbai on 3 November.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better start to what we hope to be one of the most exciting and thrilling seasons of cricket we’ve ever had in Australia.”
In addition to the Ashes tickets promotion, MasterCard is giving MasterCard cardholders the chance to win tickets to the finals of the Commonwealth Bank Series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It is a priceless prize incorporating not just flights and accommodation in the Aussie team hotel, but a pitch inspection and then lunch with Allan Border.
