THE PBA and the Araneta Coliseum management group have held talks surrounding the new guidelines imposing the Big Dome’s exclusive rights on all advertising spaces within the venue, including all LED display video boards.
Commissioner Willie Marcial disclosed meeting with top officials of Araneta’s supervising arm Uniprom Inc. (UI) recently to have a clearer understanding of the recent memo given to the league with regards to the LED display video boards and other advertising materials owned by the PBA and put up at the Big Dome on game days.
READ New Big Dome policy on LED advertisements catches PBA off guard
At the same time, Marcial said the meeting was held in order to allay fears by advertisers both by the league and its television coveror TV5 and Cignal TV that the PBA will no longer be played in its original home.
“Kasi baka mag-alala yung sponsors natin na mawala tayo sa Araneta, mawala yung LED (natin). Hindi po. Tuluy-tuloy pa rin tayo sa Araneta,” said Marcial.
SPIN.ph first reported the issue after gathering information that Uniprom sent a memo to the PBA claiming it has exclusive rights over the advertising spaces within the Big Dome, including the ones displayed on LED video boards.
It further said advertising materials will no longer be allowed by Araneta management without prior approval from Uniprom.
“Kung tama ang pagkaka-intindi ko, gusto nilang magkaroon ng sharing doon sa ads,” said Marcial of what was talked about during the meeting.
Although caught by surprise by the memo issued in the middle of Season 49, the league said it was willing to hold a dialogue with Araneta management regarding the matter, but asked that the new policy be deferred instead for next season.
“Pero in the middle of the semifinals (kasi). Sabi ko nga bakit ngayon n'yo lang sinabi,” said Marcial.
“Sabi ko pag-usapan natin sa susunod na season. Huwag itong season na ito. Tingnan natin kung paano. OK naman sila,” he added. “OK din naman tayo. In talks pa rin tayo, dire-diretso pa rin yung usapan natin, pero sa mas magandang paraan, sa mas magandang patutunguhan ng usapan.”
READ: PBA returns to MOA Arena for first two games of TNT-Ginebra finals
Proof that the Big Dome remains its top priority, the PBA will be holding its Season 50 rookie draft at the Araneta Center.
The Big Dome will also hold Games 5-7 (if necessary) of the Commissioner’s Cup finals between Barangay Ginebra and TNT.
“Diretso pa rin tayo dito (Araneta),” added Marcial. “Inaddress ko lang mabuti para doon sa mga kliyente ng TV5 at PBA sponsorships na huwag silang mag-alala. In cooperation pa rin tayo sa pag-uusap with Araneta."
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