Useful Links |
| Home |
| Articles |
You must have heard the news about the construction of a new 100,000-seat stadium being considered to replace Old Trafford. That is why the most discussed topic among the fans of Manchester United is whether the football club will sell the new stadium’s naming rights. If you are also interested in knowing whether they should sell the naming rights or not then you can read our detailed analysis on this hot topic below.
Benefits of Selling The Naming Rights Of Manchester United’s New Stadium
Here are some points which prove that selling Manchester United’s new stadium naming rights will be beneficial to the club.
#1 Recuperation of Construction Cost
Building a new 100,000 seater stadium is a very costly affair. It will cost the FC billions to build something so magnificent. One of the best ways to make back a big chunk of that money is selling the naming rights of the new stadium. Naming rights are offered to companies for an extended period of 10 to 20 years. The companies pay millions per year to the football clubs.
This is not something new and there have been many football clubs who have chosen to sell their naming rights. A great example would be amazing NFL stadiums like the Dallas Cowboys - AT&T Stadium. The construction cost of the stadium was $1.15 billion and the American football club gets $19 million per year from AT&T as naming rights. A good portion of the construction cost will be recovered over the years making it a very profitable proposition.
#2 Association With Brand
By selling the naming right to the new stadium Manchester United will not only gain monetary profits but also name and fame of the brand they associate with. By partnering with a well known brand which especially caters to the youth, the football club will be able to spread their name and fame quickly.
#3 Facility Improvement
By selling the naming rights the money will flow in every year. This money can be used to upgrade the facilities whenever required. This means fans will get better seats, cooling systems, toilets, and much more. Adding new refreshment centers will be possible for the club without worrying about the funds.
Selling the naming right will also help better the facilities provided to players. Manchester United will be able to buy more training equipment for new joiners. They will be able to upgrade the facilities of the waiting room for the players.
Why Should Not Manchester United Sell The Naming Rights of The New Stadium
Want to know what could go wrong if Manchester United sells the naming rights of the new stadium? Then read the following points.
#1 Loss of Identity
One of the most apparent losses for Manchester United will be loss of identity if they sell the naming rights. The company who buys the right will use their name instead of the club to name the stadium. This way when the naming rights contract ends and a new company buys the contract, the name of the stadium will be changed to entirely something else. This can confuse fans.
#2 Backlash From Fans
By giving out the naming right shows that the football club is more about business than football. This may anger fans and the club may get a strong backlash from fans. This will lead to reduced loyalty and the viewership of the games played by Manchester United may get affected.
Final Verdict
The Old Trafford historical journey will come to an end if the new stadium is built. However, it is not bad news for the fans and the football club. With the new stadium fans will be able to enjoy better modern facilities and the club will earn money by selling the naming rights. There are some benefits and drawbacks by doing so and in this article we have discussed them both. If Manchester United is willing to earn money and provide better facilities to players and fans then they should sell the naming rights. |
