Sports Direct's Ashley In Talks To Buy Naming Rights To Rangers' Ibrox Stadium

EPL Newcastle United Owner Mike Ashley "is understood to be in negotiations" with Scottish Third Division club Rangers "for naming rights to the Glasgow club’s iconic Ibrox Stadium," according to Charles Sale of the London DAILY MAIL. The proposed deal "would lead to one of football’s most-famous stadiums, which opened in 1899, being renamed the Sports Direct Arena to promote Ashley’s sports retail empire." Rangers "have been exploring image-rights deals since the Charles Green-led consortium took over the troubled club last June, shortly before they were demoted to the Third Division." However, any move to rename the stadium "is certain to anger many Rangers fans, even given the club's financial plight" (DAILY MAIL, 11/29). The SCOTSMAN reported a statement released by Rangers said that "Green was open to the idea of renaming the stadium if the decision would be of commercial benefit to the club" (SCOTSMAN, 11/29).