Emirates Signs Deal For Glasgow 2014 Venue
Emirates has confirmed a 10-year naming rights deal for one of Glasgow’s key venues for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, with the £113 million venue to be known as the Emirates Arena when it opens its doors later this week.
The multi-sport venue is built on a 10.5 hectare site in the East End of the Scottish city and includes the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, the Commonwealth Indoor Sports Stadium, three full-size sports halls, health and fitness centres, a luxury spa, an outdoor 1km closed cycle circuit and four outdoor five-a-side football pitches.
The Emirates Arena is set to host cycling and badminton during the 2014 Games, but will be known as the Commonwealth Sports Arena during the event.
Glasgow City Council said the deal with the airline group, worth a reported £5 million, is its largest ever partnership with a commercial body.
Councillor Gordon Matheson, the Leader of Glasgow City Council, 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. We are one of the world’s top 10 sporting cities and the Emirates Arena will play a huge part in ensuring we retain and build on that position in the coming years.’
Richard Jewsbury, Emirates’ senior vice-president of commercial operations in Europe, added: ‘As a truly global airline we are committed to connecting people and cultures and this new sponsorship portfolio truly embodies this spirit.’
‘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.’
