Accorhotels New Naming-Rights Partner For Palais Omnisport In Paris

The Palais Omnisport Paris Bercy “will be renamed Accorhotels Arena POPB after a naming contract was approved by the Paris Council on Monday,” according to LE PARISIEN. The agreement “could bring" €1M ($1.13M) a year to the city. The contract between Accorhotels and the managing company of the arena, SAE POPB, is expected to yield €4.15M ($4.7M) “per year excluding taxes to the latter,” including €3.35M ($3.8M) for naming rights. The city “will receive 30 percent of that sum,” around €1M. The partnership will be signed on Oct. 8 and will “last 10 years, with a one-time five-year extension option.” The contract faced opposition from les Verts (Greens), the communists and le Parti de Gauche (Left Party) in the Paris Council. A member of the communist party said, “Now that our city is a candidate for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the signing sends a bad message. It is in line with commercial interests, when it should go to the defense of Olympic ethics” (LE PARISIEN, 9/29).