MAN CITY HAVE agreed a 10-year deal with Etihad Airways, the airline owned by the Abu Dhabi government, it has been announced.
The deal means the City of Manchester Stadium will now be known as the Etihad Stadium, while a shirt sponsorship deal, along with other joint commercial enterprises, have also been agreed in a deal that is believed to be worth in the region of £100m.
In addition, there will be a new flight service between Manchester and Abu Dhabi, involving an MCFC-branded plane.
City Chief Executive Garry Cook said he was delighted with the deal and explained that “the agreement creates exciting opportunities for our two organisations to cooperate more deeply commercially and on media and community initiatives in the future.”
CEO of Etihad Airways, James Hogan, added that it provided the company with an opportunity to “tap into a new and increasing global audience.”
Top 6 oddest stadium names
The Etihad Stadium will be the latest in a series of odd stadium names. Here are six others, along with the teams that play in them:
1. The Gaylord Entertainment Centre (now the Bridgestone Arena) – Nashville Predators
2. The Wankdorf stadium (now Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf and responsible for one of the more interesting headlines) – Young Boys
3. The Bargain Booze Stadium (now Wincham Park) – Witton Albion
4. Hunky Dorys Park – Drogheda United
5. Kuntz Stadium – FC Indiana women’s team
6. The Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium (now the UPC Arena) – Sturm Graz
