ONE of Australasia’s most recognisable sporting sponsorships will endure after banking group ANZ announced it had extended its naming rights sponsorship of Sydney’s former Olympic stadium.
The Stadium Australia naming rights sponsorship commenced in 2008 and the partnership will reach at least 10 years following the decision to extend the deal through to the end of 2017.
ANZ Managing Director Products and Marketing, Matt Boss, said the sponsorship was in line with the group’s continuing commitment to both NSW and sport in Australia.
“We’re pleased to be continuing our support of Stadium Australia and this agreement will take the sponsorship into its tenth year,” Mr Boss said.
“Stadium Australia is one of Australia’s iconic stadiums with more than 20 million spectators passing through the turnstiles since the venue opened to host the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.”
Stadium Australia Managing Director, Mr Daryl Kerry, said he was grateful to ANZ for its decision to commit to a decade of sporting sponsorship at Sydney Olympic Park on the back of the most successful year at the Stadium since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
“In 2013, Stadium Australia welcomed 1.6 million fans to more than 50 events, including an extraordinary run of five sellout events (State of Origin I & III, FIFA World Cup qualifier, the deciding British & Irish Test, Manchester United visit) that drew upwards of 60,000 visitors to NSW and was worth more than $100 million to the NSW economy,” Mr Kerry said.
“Australians are passionate about their sport and this partnership is important for sport in NSW and Australia.
“ANZ’s decision to extend its naming rights sponsorship also comes at a time when the Stadium Australia Group is working closely with Governments and the five sporting codes to advance plans to redevelop the Stadium and the surrounding precinct.
“We fully expect that, by 2017, Stadium Australia will be well on the way to becoming the world’s leading multi-purpose Stadium – a venue able to continue to attract major international events.”
A 2013 Repucom report ranked Stadium Australia as the most valuable naming rights property of all major Australian stadia, with a total reach of 48.3 million people.
The Stadium Australia 2014 Event Schedule includes upcoming sporting blockbusters such as the Socceroos World Cup Farewell Match (26 May), the crucial Game 2 of State of Origin (18 June), a visit by Italian superclub Juventus to play the Alessandro Del Piero-led A-League All Stars (10 Aug), Bledisloe Cup (17 Aug) and the NRL Grand Final (5 Oct).
