Commonwealth Arena now named Emirates Arena

Emirates ArenaAirline Emirates has struck a £5m deal to secure the naming rights to the complex which will be Glasgow’s main 2014 Commonwealth Games sports venue and the Home of the Glasgow Rocks.

The £113m complex, next to Celtic Park in the city’s east end, will be known as the Emirates Arena until 2022 – except during the 2014 games.

The venue includes the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, the Commonwealth Indoor Sports Stadium and three sports halls.

It will open its doors for public use for the first time on 5 October.

The 10-year Emirates deal is the largest ever sponsorship agreement between Glasgow City Council and a commercial partner.

The local authority said it would help inject millions of pounds into the city’s economy and give the venue “an internationally recognisable brand name”.

However, the branding will not apply to the venue during the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

All venues are handed over “clean” to the organisers – unless an agreement has been reached as part of a sponsorship deal.

‘Lasting legacy’

Council leader Gordon Matheson said: “Many of the world’s top sports venues already enjoy the considerable benefits and prestige secured through a naming rights agreement and this partnership with Emirates puts us firmly in that elite group.

“The Emirates Arena is a truly world-class venue that will host a genuinely world-class sporting events programme.

“This partnership will bring that venue and global brand together and it will be the people of Glasgow who will reap the benefits. Over the next 10 years this multi-million pound deal will leave a lasting legacy.”

During its first four months of operation, the Emirates Arena is scheduled to host eight Scottish, European and world level sporting events.

Emirates’ senior vice president for commercial operations Europe, Richard Jewsbury, said: “We sponsor a number of the world’s most prominent international sporting and cultural events and this multi-million pound agreement will not only help to inject significant funds into the Glasgow economy, but will also highlight Glasgow’s place on the international sporting stage.”

Courtesy Glasgow Rocks

1 Comment

  1. frank the tank on October 2, 2012 at 15:03

    finally something good with emirates

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