The return of ANZ Stadium

[Queenslander]

Stadium Australia Group confirms name change

Wednesday 12 December 2007

Stadium Australia Group today confirmed that Sydney?s premier sports and entertainment venue will have a new name and a new logo from 1 January 2008 following the announcement by ANZ of its new naming rights sponsorship.

?ANZ Stadium ? Australia?s Home Ground? will be the Stadium?s new name.

The $4.5 million annual sponsorship valued at $31.5 million over seven years will be Australia?s biggest stadium naming rights agreement.

The name change will bring to an end the highly successful naming rights sponsorship with Telstra, which saw the venue inaugurated as Telstra Stadium in 2002.

Stadium Australia Group (SAG), owner and operator of the stadium, warmly welcomed the landmark agreement with ANZ and praised Telstra for its role as foundation naming rights partner.

?The ANZ agreement is the biggest stadium naming rights deal ever seen in sports and entertainment history across Australia,? said SAG Managing Director and CEO, Ken Edwards.

?We know ANZ as an Australian corporate icon and as a company that shares our values. That?s why this partnership is such a great step for the Stadium.?

Mr Edwards acknowledged Telstra for its pivotal support of the Stadium business and for its efforts to ensure the name change will be a seamless transition for the Stadium and its event partners.

?Since 2002 we have delivered a rich post-Olympic legacy to Sydney and NSW and hosted many memorable sporting moments,? he said.

?Telstra?s commitment in a period of growth and consolidation has been a pillar of strength in the Stadium?s short history.

?Sydney is now established as a major event city largely due to the magnificent events at Telstra Stadium over the past six years.

?The Rugby World Cup, NRL Grand Finals, State of Origin, Wallabies Test matches, Socceroo internationals, Swans blockbusters and countless NRL club classics have all made their mark on our sporting landscape, while the U2 and Rolling Stones concerts have set new benchmarks.

?And it?s important to acknowledge Telstra?s co-operative approach in making sure that the name change and transitional period will have no impact on the event experience for our patrons and event partners.?

Telstra Executive Director, Brand, Advertising, Media and Sponsorship, Mr Bill Obermeier said the Stadium had been a very valuable sponsorship asset to the company for almost six years.

"Since 2002, we have achieved great value and exposure for Telstra as a direct result of our naming rights sponsorship of the Stadium. We have been associated with some of Australia's greatest sports and entertainment events including the 2003 Rugby World Cup, State of Origin clashes and Socceroo World Cup qualifiers.

"Our relationship with the Stadium has helped us achieve almost ubiquitous brand awareness in Sydney," he said. "And having achieved that, we need to re-prioritise our marketing investments to enable us to communicate in greater detail all that Telstra is making possible for Sydney and all of Australia.

"As we invest differently in our sponsorship portfolio, we are pleased to have such a quality organisation in ANZ follow us as the sponsor of the stadium which remains a great asset to Sydney," Mr Obermeier said.

ANZ Chief Executive Officer, Mike Smith, officially announced the Stadium?s new name and logo today with Socceroo star John Aloisi and former Wallabies captain John Eales.

?This stadium is one of the world?s great sporting and entertainment arenas and because of the 2000 Olympics, holds a unique place in the hearts of all Australians. We are proud that it will carry the ANZ name,? Mr Smith said.

?The sponsorship is a sign of our continuing commitment both to New South Wales and to all levels of sport in Australia and New Zealand.?

http://telstrastadium.com.au/index.aspx?link_id=5.1444

[Queenslander]

You just have to laugh when you read that article

[DIEHARD]

Isn't ANZ a major shareholder in the stadium anyway?

[HodgoBerro]

interesting news
i did a tour back in june and they said that ANZ was a majority shareholder but they couldnt say if they would change the name to ANZ stadium

good memories at ANZ though

Qlder - yeah you have to laugh but the broncos are staying put
at least theres an ANZ atm there!

[Titanium_BD1103]

It's going to be confusing reading history books in the future, ANZ Stadium in Brisbane and in Sydney LOL...

Nah good to hear Stadium Australia has another sponsor and is still able to attract that sort of money, it's up there as the premier sporting ground in Australia but there's been tough times of late due to lack of support from SOPA in regards to getting events for the area outside of the stadium.

Hopefully this secures the long term future and it can keep being a place of entertainment for many a year to come.

[HodgoBerro]

the anz stadium in brisbane is now called the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre (QSAC)

[C-Whiz]

the anz stadium in brisbane is now called the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre (QSAC)

I like that.

I HATE selling naming rights to stadiums.
It spoils the whole tradition of naming and knowing a stadium. One of my big beefs with sports today is the over commercialisation of everything, including stadium naming rights.

[DIEHARD]

It only really bothers me when grounds have proper recognised and traditional names.

Calling Lang Park Suncorp Stadium is nearly enough to make me snap. I will always maintain the rage. Suncorp probably think they are hereos but what sort of company can take pride in replacing a traditional name with their corporate one....oh that's right they are a bank.

At worst it should be called Suncorp's Lang Park.

It is a far lesser evil if they sell the naming rights for a new venue or one that lacks history or identity. It doesn't really bother me that much. Most of these stadiums are run like business and I'd say a lot of the operations aren't drowning in money like Shark Park and Newcastle Stadium. Others probably need sponsorship to recoup the millions invested in the development, such as Stadium Australia, the Dome, Robina Stadium and most likely Olympic Park II.

But give us back Lang Park! The place is holy ground!

[Steve]

I was pretty livid when Penrith took a naming rights sponsor for their homeground too. They said it would be CUA Penrith Stadium, but even the Panthers refer to it as CUA Stadium now. Goodbye Penny Park.

Pretty soon they'll just be the Sanyo Panthers, just like I've heard the Titans referred to as the Jetstar Titans, sans Gold Coast.

I wonder how long before people just support a brand, and follow that brand as it moves from team to team.

[Old Diehard]

Call that field that field that extends from Milton to Paddington what ever you want eg. The Wheat Bix's Stadium, Oz Lotto Field!, Vicks Vapour Rub Paddock! It's always going to Lang Park! The home of Rugby League!

Telstra stadium - well we can call it what ever, it only been the the NRL's main field for a couple of years anyway! Lets call it WORD stadium!

[DIEHARD]

It will always be Lang Park to you and me.

But unfortunately for the younger generations it is Suncorp and the saturation of calling it Suncorp Stadium erodes the old generation from referring to it as Lang Park.

The world needs more Young Diehards and Old Diehards!

[HodgoBerro]

yeah i agree brad to the older generation calling it lang park

eventhough now legally you have to call it suncorp stadium which is a load of pishposh - call it what you like I say!

someone told me that aussie stadium is no more it went back to SFS is this true?

[DIEHARD]

eventhough now legally you have to call it suncorp stadium which is a load of pishposh - call it what you like I say!

I told you before that this is wrong. :duh:

What do you think ABC TV and radio call it?

As well as countless commentators and journalist and past rugby league players.

[Titanium_BD1103]

yeah i agree brad to the older generation calling it lang park

eventhough now legally you have to call it suncorp stadium which is a load of pishposh - call it what you like I say!

someone told me that aussie stadium is no more it went back to SFS is this true?

Yep that is true, it is currently the Sydney Football Stadium, however there is word that in the next month it will become sponsored again.. with numerous companies interested in the rights...

[DIEHARD]

The SFS is a fantastic sponsorship opportunity.