1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason find 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:12,027 Speaker 1: from News Talk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,707 --> 00:00:15,987 Speaker 2: Coming to you from an increasingly loud Tyler Street Sports 4 00:00:16,187 --> 00:00:19,067 Speaker 2: ahead of tonight's second leg of the A League Semifinal. 5 00:00:19,307 --> 00:00:23,747 Speaker 2: Auckland f C Melbourne victory, joining us now arguably the 6 00:00:23,787 --> 00:00:28,347 Speaker 2: biggest and broadest supporter of sport of this country. Mike Gray, 7 00:00:28,987 --> 00:00:31,987 Speaker 2: founder and Managing Director of Go Media. I want to 8 00:00:31,987 --> 00:00:34,547 Speaker 2: read out this list and I'm sure it isn't exhaustive, 9 00:00:35,027 --> 00:00:37,547 Speaker 2: but it does display your commitment to sport in this country. 10 00:00:37,547 --> 00:00:39,987 Speaker 2: You were the first sponsor to sign up with Auckland 11 00:00:40,107 --> 00:00:43,067 Speaker 2: f C. You back the Blues, the Chiefs, the Hurricanes, 12 00:00:43,107 --> 00:00:46,347 Speaker 2: the Crusaders and the Highlanders, as well as Auckland North, Harbor, 13 00:00:46,347 --> 00:00:51,587 Speaker 2: waycut Or, Wellington and Canterbury rugby unions. In cricket Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington, 14 00:00:51,627 --> 00:00:52,547 Speaker 2: Northern and Central. 15 00:00:52,987 --> 00:00:54,067 Speaker 3: You recently took up. 16 00:00:54,027 --> 00:00:56,267 Speaker 2: Naming rights sponsorship for the Stars and the A and 17 00:00:56,387 --> 00:00:59,667 Speaker 2: Z Premiership. You also support the Mystics, the Pulse, the Magic, 18 00:00:59,987 --> 00:01:04,827 Speaker 2: the Steel and New Zealand Netport, Auckland Tennis Athletics, Emirates 19 00:01:04,827 --> 00:01:08,187 Speaker 2: Team New Zealand, Box Me and Mottu and of course, 20 00:01:08,787 --> 00:01:13,107 Speaker 2: go media stadium. What is behind this deep seated love 21 00:01:13,227 --> 00:01:17,227 Speaker 2: and passion for sport and aligning yourself and your company 22 00:01:17,267 --> 00:01:18,707 Speaker 2: with it? 23 00:01:18,827 --> 00:01:20,387 Speaker 3: Afternoon, Piney, thanks for the intro. 24 00:01:20,867 --> 00:01:23,747 Speaker 4: Loved to see you mate. Hey, Well, I believe in 25 00:01:23,787 --> 00:01:28,427 Speaker 4: the power of sport. I think it connects communities, It 26 00:01:28,467 --> 00:01:32,547 Speaker 4: brings people together. I think the camaraderie of sport, whether 27 00:01:32,587 --> 00:01:34,627 Speaker 4: you're playing in a team or you're supporting a team. 28 00:01:35,827 --> 00:01:37,027 Speaker 3: Look at the bar, it's pumping. 29 00:01:37,147 --> 00:01:38,747 Speaker 4: People will be on the buses and on the train 30 00:01:38,867 --> 00:01:42,907 Speaker 4: soon the port rocking down those stairs. You know, when 31 00:01:42,947 --> 00:01:44,667 Speaker 4: you're in the stadium and it's a Warriors game, it's 32 00:01:44,667 --> 00:01:47,507 Speaker 4: a different feeling to an AFC game. But you've got 33 00:01:47,507 --> 00:01:50,507 Speaker 4: these passionate fans that are part of something bigger than 34 00:01:50,547 --> 00:01:52,267 Speaker 4: themselves and I think we all un for that. 35 00:01:52,867 --> 00:01:55,307 Speaker 3: And isn't it great to be backing something that's winning. 36 00:01:55,747 --> 00:01:58,587 Speaker 4: So my strategy is if I sponsor everything, I have 37 00:01:58,707 --> 00:02:02,187 Speaker 4: got someone that's doing really well, you know, so I'm 38 00:02:02,187 --> 00:02:03,947 Speaker 4: always winning and you can be part of the magic, 39 00:02:03,987 --> 00:02:05,947 Speaker 4: which is yeah, magical moments. 40 00:02:06,387 --> 00:02:07,907 Speaker 3: You're here to make memories, Pinty. 41 00:02:08,027 --> 00:02:10,667 Speaker 2: Well, all the FC are certainly doing that, as are 42 00:02:10,707 --> 00:02:13,507 Speaker 2: the Warriors now Supporting teams is one thing, you know, 43 00:02:13,547 --> 00:02:17,627 Speaker 2: putting your name and lending support to sporting teams is 44 00:02:17,707 --> 00:02:21,587 Speaker 2: one thing. But putting your name on an entire venue, 45 00:02:21,827 --> 00:02:24,787 Speaker 2: Go Media Stadium, that's a that's another level up. Can 46 00:02:24,827 --> 00:02:27,707 Speaker 2: you tell us about the process behind that, the decision 47 00:02:27,707 --> 00:02:30,547 Speaker 2: making that went on that you and your commitment to 48 00:02:30,587 --> 00:02:31,827 Speaker 2: an entire venue. 49 00:02:32,307 --> 00:02:32,787 Speaker 3: Yeah. Sure. 50 00:02:33,307 --> 00:02:35,267 Speaker 4: I was actually initially asked to come in to see 51 00:02:35,267 --> 00:02:38,147 Speaker 4: if I could help find a naming rights partner. And 52 00:02:38,227 --> 00:02:39,987 Speaker 4: so as I was drilling into it, trying to work 53 00:02:39,987 --> 00:02:42,227 Speaker 4: out how would I pitch it to someone? What are 54 00:02:42,267 --> 00:02:45,507 Speaker 4: the values? The values you could unlock, how would you 55 00:02:45,587 --> 00:02:48,267 Speaker 4: leverage it? The more and more I thought about it, 56 00:02:48,587 --> 00:02:51,307 Speaker 4: the more I thought this would be perfect for me. Right, 57 00:02:51,987 --> 00:02:54,387 Speaker 4: And it's actually quite hard to find a naming rights 58 00:02:54,427 --> 00:02:58,227 Speaker 4: partner that's neutral. So I couldn't be Steinlager Stadium because 59 00:02:58,267 --> 00:03:02,467 Speaker 4: of Heineken, will Rugby Caman, right, it can't be Spark 60 00:03:02,547 --> 00:03:04,907 Speaker 4: Stadium because of one anti Warriors, right, So. 61 00:03:04,827 --> 00:03:06,547 Speaker 3: We're kind of neutrals. 62 00:03:06,587 --> 00:03:09,627 Speaker 4: We sponsored the teams that play in the venues, and 63 00:03:09,987 --> 00:03:13,027 Speaker 4: so we just I saw this sort of alignment of sport. 64 00:03:13,387 --> 00:03:16,227 Speaker 4: We're already sponsored the teams, but why don't we put 65 00:03:16,067 --> 00:03:19,907 Speaker 4: our name up in lights And you know, initially it 66 00:03:19,947 --> 00:03:21,987 Speaker 4: was two years ago. We did the deal this month 67 00:03:22,107 --> 00:03:24,547 Speaker 4: and it was a bit of slow. It took a 68 00:03:24,547 --> 00:03:26,227 Speaker 4: while to take up. But even now of who do 69 00:03:26,227 --> 00:03:26,667 Speaker 4: you call it? 70 00:03:26,667 --> 00:03:28,267 Speaker 3: Where you go? You know, it's six to. 71 00:03:28,307 --> 00:03:30,507 Speaker 4: One here at Go Media and you don't even use 72 00:03:30,547 --> 00:03:32,987 Speaker 4: the word stadium, which is you know, films my heart 73 00:03:33,027 --> 00:03:36,307 Speaker 4: with joy. It was a pretty audacious move at the time, 74 00:03:36,907 --> 00:03:41,267 Speaker 4: and luckily I've got two great business partners that believe 75 00:03:41,307 --> 00:03:44,787 Speaker 4: in my crazy ideas sometimes and but for us, it 76 00:03:44,867 --> 00:03:49,107 Speaker 4: was about signaling to the city that we're here for 77 00:03:49,147 --> 00:03:52,427 Speaker 4: the long term, that we're we're we invest in the city, 78 00:03:52,427 --> 00:03:56,107 Speaker 4: that we backed the community. And I believe in elevation 79 00:03:56,827 --> 00:03:59,667 Speaker 4: that if I can help anyone elevate, just even by 80 00:03:59,667 --> 00:04:02,667 Speaker 4: two millimeters, that's kind of my purpose and my mission. 81 00:04:03,107 --> 00:04:04,987 Speaker 3: So you mentioned me and more two and the intro. 82 00:04:05,587 --> 00:04:08,267 Speaker 4: I'm now who made sponsor because when I found out 83 00:04:08,267 --> 00:04:11,027 Speaker 4: that she had to have a full time job and 84 00:04:11,307 --> 00:04:13,947 Speaker 4: couldn't focus on training when she's a world champion trying 85 00:04:13,987 --> 00:04:16,907 Speaker 4: to do amazing things, I just thought that's not right. 86 00:04:17,467 --> 00:04:20,187 Speaker 4: So I wanted to address that. So happy to be 87 00:04:20,307 --> 00:04:21,947 Speaker 4: part of her team and her corner. 88 00:04:22,347 --> 00:04:25,227 Speaker 2: Now you speak with great passion, and these are clearly 89 00:04:25,547 --> 00:04:28,747 Speaker 2: passionate decisions that you make, But you are also a businessman, 90 00:04:29,107 --> 00:04:31,427 Speaker 2: right You've got to make the numbers work. How much 91 00:04:31,467 --> 00:04:33,987 Speaker 2: does that figure into your decision making or is that 92 00:04:34,227 --> 00:04:36,227 Speaker 2: left in the hands of your business partners? 93 00:04:36,387 --> 00:04:40,747 Speaker 4: And you provide the passion. No, I never take risks. 94 00:04:41,347 --> 00:04:42,627 Speaker 4: I take calculated risks. 95 00:04:42,667 --> 00:04:46,387 Speaker 3: So I tend to move into the future and I work. 96 00:04:46,307 --> 00:04:48,507 Speaker 4: My way backwards and go, Okay, if I took this 97 00:04:48,587 --> 00:04:51,787 Speaker 4: name and right Steel, how would I monetize it, How could. 98 00:04:51,587 --> 00:04:54,267 Speaker 3: I get the benefit back? What would I need to do? 99 00:04:54,307 --> 00:04:57,147 Speaker 3: What are the risks? What could go wrong? And then 100 00:04:57,187 --> 00:04:58,747 Speaker 3: from that I try and build a model. 101 00:04:58,747 --> 00:05:01,707 Speaker 4: And ultimately, when I make a decision, I've already established 102 00:05:01,707 --> 00:05:03,107 Speaker 4: in my mind that it cannot fail. 103 00:05:03,707 --> 00:05:05,387 Speaker 3: So the stadium's gone way. 104 00:05:05,187 --> 00:05:07,587 Speaker 4: Better than I imagine, because of course at that time 105 00:05:07,627 --> 00:05:09,667 Speaker 4: we didn't know Auckland the Sea was going to exist, 106 00:05:10,147 --> 00:05:12,867 Speaker 4: but we did bring the Wellington Phoenix up, did a doubleheader, 107 00:05:13,467 --> 00:05:16,227 Speaker 4: and I convinced Aalkland Stadiums who backed that, that we 108 00:05:16,267 --> 00:05:17,787 Speaker 4: would sell it out and we got. 109 00:05:17,627 --> 00:05:18,787 Speaker 3: About seven thousand people. 110 00:05:20,107 --> 00:05:22,787 Speaker 4: But I had this vision of ferris wheels and you 111 00:05:22,827 --> 00:05:26,587 Speaker 4: know pack stadiums. So Auckland fcvchieved that. They even had 112 00:05:26,587 --> 00:05:29,387 Speaker 4: the fairest wheel, so you know when you've got a 113 00:05:29,627 --> 00:05:31,627 Speaker 4: when you're visionary like that. But what I really wanted 114 00:05:31,627 --> 00:05:36,227 Speaker 4: to back was football. You know, yes, I sponsored rugby, cricket, netball, 115 00:05:36,307 --> 00:05:39,347 Speaker 4: everything right, but to have a team playing in this 116 00:05:39,507 --> 00:05:43,067 Speaker 4: city in this competition. And I'm a long term sponsor 117 00:05:43,067 --> 00:05:45,587 Speaker 4: to the Phoenix, but to have the Derby, like, as 118 00:05:45,627 --> 00:05:49,667 Speaker 4: a football fan, what a great thing, and just have 119 00:05:49,787 --> 00:05:51,027 Speaker 4: Auckland win the Premiers play. 120 00:05:51,547 --> 00:05:54,587 Speaker 3: And I was in Melbourne last weekend, very tense game. 121 00:05:55,227 --> 00:05:56,867 Speaker 3: You know, Melbourne came out of the blocks. I think 122 00:05:56,867 --> 00:05:58,147 Speaker 3: it's going to be a tough one today. 123 00:05:58,707 --> 00:06:01,947 Speaker 4: I think if we can get ahead first, we score first, 124 00:06:01,987 --> 00:06:04,907 Speaker 4: that's the goal, go into halftime. If it's nil, all 125 00:06:04,947 --> 00:06:07,907 Speaker 4: that's still a win. The clock down. But you know, 126 00:06:07,947 --> 00:06:11,227 Speaker 4: I think we're the better team. I think defensively, the 127 00:06:11,347 --> 00:06:14,747 Speaker 4: way they work so hard off the ball. Poulson the strata, 128 00:06:14,787 --> 00:06:16,707 Speaker 4: he was amazing last week in effect, I think he's 129 00:06:16,707 --> 00:06:17,907 Speaker 4: been amazing all season. 130 00:06:18,347 --> 00:06:20,907 Speaker 3: He's my favorite player in the team. Worked so hard. 131 00:06:20,987 --> 00:06:24,187 Speaker 4: But I think, you know, like Warrior's second on the 132 00:06:24,227 --> 00:06:26,587 Speaker 4: table and I called it on a Heather show last night. 133 00:06:26,587 --> 00:06:28,987 Speaker 3: They are going to win the ourl this year. 134 00:06:30,507 --> 00:06:32,467 Speaker 2: Well you don't. You don't take risks, you don't make 135 00:06:32,467 --> 00:06:34,027 Speaker 2: out Lander's statements. 136 00:06:34,147 --> 00:06:35,907 Speaker 3: No, I think it's a I think it's a fair call. 137 00:06:35,947 --> 00:06:37,667 Speaker 2: I mean, if they win tomorrow, they go joint top 138 00:06:37,707 --> 00:06:40,027 Speaker 2: on points. So it's not you know, you're not you're 139 00:06:40,027 --> 00:06:43,787 Speaker 2: not really making a a big bold call. Where do 140 00:06:43,867 --> 00:06:46,627 Speaker 2: you watch games from? Where do you want when you 141 00:06:46,627 --> 00:06:48,587 Speaker 2: get out there this afternoon? Do you have your own 142 00:06:48,787 --> 00:06:50,587 Speaker 2: sweet or what? How do you watch games? 143 00:06:50,787 --> 00:06:50,987 Speaker 3: Yeah? 144 00:06:50,987 --> 00:06:53,187 Speaker 4: Well this is half the trick that they pulled so 145 00:06:54,027 --> 00:06:56,547 Speaker 4: to get me to look at the naming rights. We 146 00:06:56,547 --> 00:07:00,907 Speaker 4: were given the halfway sweet for the Harry Styles concert 147 00:07:01,547 --> 00:07:04,867 Speaker 4: and because I wanted some tickets to my daughter. Next minute, 148 00:07:04,907 --> 00:07:07,627 Speaker 4: we're in the halfway sweet and I'm being told, well, 149 00:07:07,627 --> 00:07:09,547 Speaker 4: this is part of the naming rights, and you know, 150 00:07:09,987 --> 00:07:13,387 Speaker 4: so as you start looking round and and then and. 151 00:07:13,347 --> 00:07:15,827 Speaker 5: Then I got off with the Warriors game, and then 152 00:07:15,867 --> 00:07:17,667 Speaker 5: we had another Warriors game, and then we an All 153 00:07:17,667 --> 00:07:21,227 Speaker 5: Whites game, and before you knew it, I was right 154 00:07:21,307 --> 00:07:23,427 Speaker 5: doing the deal in my head. 155 00:07:23,627 --> 00:07:25,987 Speaker 4: And then I knew the all Blacks were coming and 156 00:07:26,027 --> 00:07:28,467 Speaker 4: no one knew that, so I was like, if the 157 00:07:28,507 --> 00:07:29,547 Speaker 4: All Blacks played at. 158 00:07:29,427 --> 00:07:31,227 Speaker 3: Go Media Stadium, how cool would that? 159 00:07:32,307 --> 00:07:33,907 Speaker 4: So I was actually in Hong Kong as in a 160 00:07:33,947 --> 00:07:37,067 Speaker 4: transit hotel, and I woke up to a text message 161 00:07:37,707 --> 00:07:41,987 Speaker 4: that said someone thought our business was a small business, 162 00:07:42,947 --> 00:07:45,627 Speaker 4: and I wanted to be seen as a big business 163 00:07:45,627 --> 00:07:47,707 Speaker 4: because I'm trying to win a big contract at the moment. 164 00:07:48,307 --> 00:07:53,347 Speaker 4: And I thought, well, okay, naming rights would perhaps change perception. 165 00:07:53,827 --> 00:07:57,027 Speaker 4: And I had the contract in my bag and in Germany, 166 00:07:57,067 --> 00:07:57,787 Speaker 4: I was in a hotel. 167 00:07:57,827 --> 00:07:59,187 Speaker 3: My son was playing football in. 168 00:07:59,147 --> 00:08:02,267 Speaker 4: Germany and I'd gone to visit him, and in the 169 00:08:02,307 --> 00:08:06,947 Speaker 4: hotel in Bremen, I walked him through the whole contract 170 00:08:06,947 --> 00:08:08,947 Speaker 4: and I see, these are the problems. If I can 171 00:08:08,987 --> 00:08:11,787 Speaker 4: solve these, I'll do the deal. And so they agreed 172 00:08:11,827 --> 00:08:14,667 Speaker 4: to my changes, and so I did this deal right 173 00:08:15,147 --> 00:08:17,747 Speaker 4: now when we actually launched the stadium, and it goes 174 00:08:17,787 --> 00:08:19,867 Speaker 4: out on TV and Z I send him the YouTube 175 00:08:19,947 --> 00:08:22,707 Speaker 4: link and my son watches it and he rings them 176 00:08:22,707 --> 00:08:24,907 Speaker 4: out like almost gobsmacked, and he's like. 177 00:08:25,307 --> 00:08:29,147 Speaker 3: Dad, dead, it's everything you said it would be. 178 00:08:29,547 --> 00:08:31,907 Speaker 4: And I'm like, yes, boy, yes, he goes, no, but 179 00:08:32,027 --> 00:08:35,787 Speaker 4: dead you told you what would happen, and it's actually happened. 180 00:08:35,987 --> 00:08:38,307 Speaker 3: I'm like, yes, boy, this is this is what being 181 00:08:38,307 --> 00:08:41,227 Speaker 3: a businessman knows you. But Dad, you actually did it. 182 00:08:41,427 --> 00:08:43,987 Speaker 3: I'm like, yes, bood, this good. He's got trust in 183 00:08:43,987 --> 00:08:44,947 Speaker 3: his old man. Yeah. 184 00:08:45,067 --> 00:08:48,507 Speaker 4: Well he's an entrepreneurial himself, but I'm I'm teaching him 185 00:08:48,547 --> 00:08:51,547 Speaker 4: the you know, you you make these moments, you make 186 00:08:51,587 --> 00:08:52,347 Speaker 4: the magic happen. 187 00:08:52,427 --> 00:08:55,347 Speaker 3: You have to when you're an entrepreneur. You actually have 188 00:08:55,427 --> 00:08:58,227 Speaker 3: to go out there like a sports team. 189 00:08:57,747 --> 00:09:00,427 Speaker 4: And sometimes chance you're up and you don't always win, 190 00:09:00,907 --> 00:09:03,267 Speaker 4: but you want to be in the competition. You want 191 00:09:03,267 --> 00:09:05,067 Speaker 4: to be there in the final round and you might 192 00:09:05,107 --> 00:09:07,147 Speaker 4: have been knocked down twice. But if you can if 193 00:09:07,187 --> 00:09:08,787 Speaker 4: you can get that upper cut in at the last 194 00:09:08,867 --> 00:09:11,467 Speaker 4: minute and sees the fight, Ye're there. 195 00:09:11,507 --> 00:09:12,507 Speaker 3: So I'm always. 196 00:09:12,187 --> 00:09:15,427 Speaker 4: Always battling to exceed, you know, because I'm up against 197 00:09:15,427 --> 00:09:18,707 Speaker 4: these foreign competitors. I'm the big New Zealand company, and 198 00:09:18,947 --> 00:09:21,267 Speaker 4: I want us to be the biggest and the best 199 00:09:21,307 --> 00:09:25,027 Speaker 4: because then I can do more for Tommocky, for New Zealand. 200 00:09:25,227 --> 00:09:28,587 Speaker 2: Well, a lot of people talk the talk Mike, congratulations 201 00:09:28,587 --> 00:09:30,667 Speaker 2: on walking the walk. I know it's not finished. I 202 00:09:30,667 --> 00:09:33,387 Speaker 2: know the walk is a long way from being finished, 203 00:09:33,387 --> 00:09:35,747 Speaker 2: but I know you will join the march, perhaps to 204 00:09:35,867 --> 00:09:37,747 Speaker 2: the to the match this afternoon. 205 00:09:37,947 --> 00:09:40,187 Speaker 3: Great to see your mate enjoy the game. Thanks Pinning, 206 00:09:40,547 --> 00:09:42,827 Speaker 3: I love your calls. Great to see you again. Good 207 00:09:42,827 --> 00:09:43,347 Speaker 3: to see you, Mike. 208 00:09:43,347 --> 00:09:47,147 Speaker 2: Mike Graig, founder and Managing director of Go Media. You'll 209 00:09:47,147 --> 00:09:50,787 Speaker 2: find their name everywhere, including on Go Media stadium venue 210 00:09:50,827 --> 00:09:53,947 Speaker 2: for tonight's semi final Auckland FC Melbourne victory. 211 00:09:54,507 --> 00:09:57,707 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Faine, listen live 212 00:09:57,787 --> 00:10:01,107 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow 213 00:10:01,147 --> 00:10:02,747 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio