Old Trafford, one of England’s most historic cricket grounds, is to be known formally as Emirates Old Trafford for the next 10 years after Lancashire announced a sponsorship agreement with the airline.
The lucrative deal, reportedly worth up to £10 million (£15 million) and the largest in English county cricket, will help Lancashire fund the redevelopment of the Manchester ground that has been the north-west county’s home since its foundation in 1864.
Emirates’ name will also appear on the front of Lancashire’s Twenty20 shirts and the agreement with the Dubai-based carrier includes a number of other marketing rights.
“This announcement represents another major step in the redevelopment of Old Trafford,” Lancashire chairman Michael Cairns said Thursday.
“The intention to secure a naming rights partner was always on our list of objectives; however, it remained paramount that we secure a partner who was actively committed to cricket and its future while at the same time had significant interests in Manchester and the north-west.
“The financial benefits of this deal are a core component of our long-term strategy for commercial sustainability.
“The partnership will support our intention to be regarded as one of the top county cricket clubs in the country and undisputed as a category A Test match venue.”
Legal problems with a rival developer caused delays and even, at one point, threatened the club’s future but this deal should see the end of a fraught battle to redevelop Old Trafford.
Lancashire have played the majority of their home County Championship matches at outgrounds during the past two seasons.
But now work at their headquarters is set to be completed by May, well ahead of the third Ashes Test against Australia at Old Trafford — which shares its name with the nearby home of football giants Manchester United — in August.
Emirates also sponsor the ground to be used for the fourth Ashes Test at Chester-le-Street in north-east England — the Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground.
The lucrative deal, reportedly worth up to £10 million (£15 million) and the largest in English county cricket, will help Lancashire fund the redevelopment of the Manchester ground that has been the north-west county’s home since its foundation in 1864.
Emirates’ name will also appear on the front of Lancashire’s Twenty20 shirts and the agreement with the Dubai-based carrier includes a number of other marketing rights.
“This announcement represents another major step in the redevelopment of Old Trafford,” Lancashire chairman Michael Cairns said Thursday.
“The intention to secure a naming rights partner was always on our list of objectives; however, it remained paramount that we secure a partner who was actively committed to cricket and its future while at the same time had significant interests in Manchester and the north-west.
“The financial benefits of this deal are a core component of our long-term strategy for commercial sustainability.
“The partnership will support our intention to be regarded as one of the top county cricket clubs in the country and undisputed as a category A Test match venue.”
Legal problems with a rival developer caused delays and even, at one point, threatened the club’s future but this deal should see the end of a fraught battle to redevelop Old Trafford.
Lancashire have played the majority of their home County Championship matches at outgrounds during the past two seasons.
But now work at their headquarters is set to be completed by May, well ahead of the third Ashes Test against Australia at Old Trafford — which shares its name with the nearby home of football giants Manchester United — in August.
Emirates also sponsor the ground to be used for the fourth Ashes Test at Chester-le-Street in north-east England — the Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground.
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