Latest News AAMI secures name for Melbourne stadium
| AAMI secures name for Melbourne stadium |
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| Tuesday, 16 March 2010 20:04 |
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Melbourne's new rectangular stadium will be known as AAMI Park following a sponsorship deal struck with the insurance brand. AAMI, part of the Suncorp Group, has agreed an eight-year naming rights deal for the stadium, which will open on 7 May with a rugby league match between Australia and New Zealand.
The $267.5m stadium will hold more than 30,000 spectators once it is completed and will host soccer, rugby league and rugby union. The stadium, which has a bubble-like ‘bio-frame' roof, was unwittingly involved in a recent row between the AFL and the Football Federation of Australia over which Melbourne stadiums would be used should Australia win the right to host the soccer World Cup in either 2018 or 2022. AAMI Park's current capacity is smaller than that required to host World Cup matches, but the venue will play regular host to A-League sides Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart, as well as NRL team Melbourne Storm and rugby union outfit Melbourne Rebels. AAMI already has naming rights to another venue - Adelaide's AAMI Stadium. The ground plays host to matches involving AFL sides Port Adelaide and Adelaide Crows. Mark Milliner, CEO of Suncorp Personal Insurance, said: "We are very proud to be associated with what will no doubt become another iconic Melbourne landmark, in Australia's premier sports and entertainment precinct. "We congratulate the Victorian Government on its vision in the development of this world-class stadium, which will bring elite rectangular sports and entertainment to Victorians and visitors." James Merlino, Victorian state sports minister, added: "Victorians love their sport and AAMI Park is the latest addition to a first-class suite of sporting infrastructure that is the envy of any city in the world. "The Victorian Government continues to invest in key infrastructure projects to give Victoria the edge and ensure we continue to attract the major sporting events Melbourne is renowned for." |
| Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 March 2010 20:07 |