Aviva secures Lansdowne Road naming rights
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
The FAI and the Irish Rugby Football Union have agreed a deal with Hibernian Aviva, Ireland’s largest insurance company, which will see the new €400m stadium currently being built on the site of the old Lansdowne Road being called the Aviva Stadium. Financial details were not disclosed, but industry sources suggested to extratime.ie that Aviva is likely to have paid around €40m for the rights.
Hibernian Aviva have secured the naming rights for a ten-year period. Details of the sponsorship were unveiled today at a function in Dublin.
Work on Aviva Stadium, which will hold 50,000, commenced in May 2007 with the demolition of Lansdowne Road. The stadium is on schedule for completion in April 2010. It is expected that the first rugby and soccer games will take place there later that year.
Announcing the naming rights for the new stadium, FAI chief executive, John Delaney said "It will be a place where dreams are realised and memories are made."
He also stressed the importance of the economic impact of the stadium and the trickle down effect this will have on the 450,000 members of the Irish soccer community.
He continued, "I have no doubt that the Aviva stadium will become one of Europe's great arenas and I very much look forward to cementing that reputation"
Philip Browne, Chairman of the LRSDC (Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company) and CEO of IRFU, announced that the IFRU are also bidding the host the Heineken cup final in 2011.
Browne estimates the benefit to the local economy each year when the stadium is complete to be in the region of €250 million.
Previous research carried out during the weekend of the last Ireland v England rugby match estimated it was worth €90 million to the local economy.
Aviva stadium will host a friendly rugby encounter as its first event with the opposition yet to be announced.
Stuart Purdy, chief executive of the Hibernian Aviva group said "We are truly delighted that Hibernian Aviva has been able to come to this agreement with our partners here today to secure the naming rights for this stadium"
Mr Purdy refused to disclose any financial figures in relation to the naming rights and sponsorship deal.
He said, "The important issue today is this is a major long term commitment that Aviva is entering into to support the games and associate with this stadium"
Hibernian Aviva have secured the naming rights for a ten-year period. Details of the sponsorship were unveiled today at a function in Dublin.
Work on Aviva Stadium, which will hold 50,000, commenced in May 2007 with the demolition of Lansdowne Road. The stadium is on schedule for completion in April 2010. It is expected that the first rugby and soccer games will take place there later that year.
Announcing the naming rights for the new stadium, FAI chief executive, John Delaney said "It will be a place where dreams are realised and memories are made."
He also stressed the importance of the economic impact of the stadium and the trickle down effect this will have on the 450,000 members of the Irish soccer community.
He continued, "I have no doubt that the Aviva stadium will become one of Europe's great arenas and I very much look forward to cementing that reputation"
Philip Browne, Chairman of the LRSDC (Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company) and CEO of IRFU, announced that the IFRU are also bidding the host the Heineken cup final in 2011.
Browne estimates the benefit to the local economy each year when the stadium is complete to be in the region of €250 million.
Previous research carried out during the weekend of the last Ireland v England rugby match estimated it was worth €90 million to the local economy.
Aviva stadium will host a friendly rugby encounter as its first event with the opposition yet to be announced.
Stuart Purdy, chief executive of the Hibernian Aviva group said "We are truly delighted that Hibernian Aviva has been able to come to this agreement with our partners here today to secure the naming rights for this stadium"
Mr Purdy refused to disclose any financial figures in relation to the naming rights and sponsorship deal.
He said, "The important issue today is this is a major long term commitment that Aviva is entering into to support the games and associate with this stadium"
