Extraordinary Genius Chapter 499 – Name sponsor of training grounds

Feng Yu, accompanied by Shenyang’s distributor, arrived at the Shenyang’s track and field team training ground and told the person in charge there about the purpose of his visits. “You want to sponsor our training grounds? You still want our athletes to endorse your products?” The person in charge looked at Feng Yu weirdly.

The athletes there were affected by the health products scandal, and they were at the lowest point of their career. Hiring them as spokesmen for Feng Yu’s products at this time was a good deal and can change the image of the athletes.

Most importantly, after the upcoming World Championships, these athletes will recover their fame and reputation. Feng Yu would be able to gain from that. As for Coach Ma, Feng Yu can’t be bothered with him.

From Feng Yu’s perspective, Coach Ma was one of the people who created the Chinese Turtle Essence mess, and he was not someone good!

“That’s right. I feel that the health products scandal had affected our athletes a lot and they are innocent. That’s why I want to do my part to provide some a.s.sistance to them.”

“Then which athlete are you looking for? Also, how are you going to sponsor our training grounds?” Chief Tian was overjoyed. This young man knew that the reputations of the athletes were tarnished and still dare to hire them as spokespeople for his products. Seems like he was sincere in helping the athletes.

“The facilities in this training ground is outdated. Just tell me what you lack, and I will sponsor it. Also, my sister owns a hospital with the most advanced diagnostic equipment. We will be able to detect even the most minor injuries in the athletes. I can also rebuild and renovate the whole training ground. How much will it cost?” Feng Yu smiled and asked.

Chief Tian almost fainted from this surprise. He never expects Feng Yu’s sponsorship to be so big!

“Rebuilding and renovating the training ground and adding new facilities should cost about 1 million RMB. If we do save on some parts, 700,000 to 800,000 RMB should be sufficient.” Chief Tian saw the expression on Feng Yu’s face when he mentioned 1 million and immediately said another amount.

“1 Million? Don’t help me save money. I will give you 2 million. The athletes’ dormitory should be more s.p.a.cious. Their rooms should not be too small. Oh, how many athletes are staying in one dormitory room?”

“8 to a standard dormitory room.”

Huh? 8 to a dormitory room? This was still considered standard? Was the way to treat those champions?

“Change it to 2 to a room. Every dormitory room should have bathrooms. Also, the rooms must be equipped with home appliances, like TV, etc. You calculate again, what is the total cost?”

Chief Tian was in a dazed from Feng Yu’s generosity. This person was too wealthy. He does not even care about a few million RMB. A few million RMB was not an amount he could earn in his lifetime.

“3 million?” Chief Tian said a higher amount. Actually, the dormitory was all one-story houses. If they were to raise funds themselves, they could continue to build more one-story houses. But since there was a sponsor, they would surely choose to construct a building. The cost would be much higher as home appliances and bathrooms had to be included in the rooms.

“Fine. Just settle it as 3 million for now. If this amount is not enough, we can discuss it later. Are there any other areas where you need money? Tell me.”

Chief Tian told Feng Yu about some other areas where it needs money for improvements. Feng Yu agreed to sponsor everything that was mentioned. He had already spent a few million and does not mind paying a few hundred thousand more.

After Chief Tian reported this sponsorship to his higher-ups, Feng Yu smiled and said: “Do I own the naming rights for this training grounds?”

Chief Tian was stunned: “What naming rights are you talking about?”

“The naming rights to this training ground. In future, this training ground will be renamed to Wind and Rain Training Ground, and this will be its permanent name.”

“Manager Feng, who had agreed to this condition?”

“Eh? I cannot get to name this training grounds? Then why should I sponsor a few million?” Feng Yu looked at Chief Tian in shocked.

Chief Tian: “……”

Earlier you said that you want to do a part to help the athletes.

“Manager Feng, the naming rights belong to the country. How can you own the naming rights?”

“Why not? There are lots of counties in China that are named after someone’s name. Why can’t a training ground do the same?”

“That’s because those people had made huge contributions to that area.”

“I am also making a huge contribution to our training ground. Can you get the higher-ups to issue you a sum of money now? Did the provincial government sponsor anything for the training ground? All their funding should have stopped now. I can provide funding for this training ground. The total amount you calculated just now is slightly more than 4 million RMB? I can sponsor a total of 5 million. What’s wrong with me owning the naming rights?”

Chief Tian was shocked. Feng Yu had not mentioned anything about the naming rights earlier, and he had reported this sponsorship to the General Administration of Sport. Now, if he were to tell them that the sponsorship had failed, his leader will come over and strangle him immediately!

“Manager Feng, I need to report to the higher-ups regarding this naming right. I'm afraid that this needs the approval of the Provincial Government.”

Feng Yu points to the phone: “Then call your leaders to report about this. I can wait.”

Actually, Feng Yu does not want to wait further. He wants to settle this and change the name of the training grounds as soon as possible. He wanted to have Wind and Rain Training Grounds in the background during the interviews of the athletes.

Chief Tian gritted his teeth and called his leader to report on this matter. He explained the situation to his leader and shouting could be heard from the receiver. This leader of his had already reported this sponsorship to his higher-ups.

The news of this sponsorship had traveled upwards to the top officials, and Feng Yu was sitting with his legs crossed, enjoying a cup of tea. That Liao Province’s distributor was keeping quiet and looking down all this while. He was thinking in his heart. He knew Manager Feng would not be so good to sponsor this training ground. The naming rights were his real motive.

Chief Tian was surprised when the higher-ups reply him that this matter can be negotiated.

The General Administration of Sport of China had this idea since some time back. They want to copy other countries where some stadiums and training grounds have naming sponsorships. This would reduce their financial strain, and there was nothing wrong with this as long as there was no negative news regarding the sponsor.

In fact, there were already Table Tennis halls in the southern region that had its name sponsored by companies. Those were even foreign companies. If foreign companies could get the naming rights to the Table Tennis halls, why can’t a Chinese brand sponsor this training ground and owns the naming rights?

“Manager Feng, our leader would like to invite you to lunch and at the same time discuss the naming rights.” Chief Tian walked over to Feng Yu and told him.

“No problem. Then we will discuss during lunch. I will arrange the location. I will not take advantage of the government.” Feng Yu looked the person beside him.

The Liao Province distributor quickly went to arrange for a restaurant. Of course, Feng Yu does not need to spend for this lunch.

During the lunch, Feng Yu asked the distributor to drink more with the government official and that leader promised to settle this naming sponsorship issue. If 5 million RMB sponsorship could not resolve this issue, then there was no other way.

The leader promised to settle all paperwork and approvals within 3 days, and the signage at the entrance of the training ground can be replaced. But permanent changing of the name was impossible. At most, it would be 20 years.

Feng Yu did a mental calculation, 250,000 RMB for a year. This was a great deal!

Shortly, this training ground would be the featured in all Chinese media. This was even better than advertising at CCTV. Feng Yu felt that even if it was 10 years, it was also worthy of his sponsorship.

Feng Yu said many nice things to the leader, but he was laughing in his heart. Although he seems to be a fool to spend so much money now, soon, others will know that this deal was way better than it looks!

Translator’s notes: China’s government agency responsible for sports.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Administration_of_Sport_of_China