Hunter-founded builder McDonald Jones Homes has "inked a five-year deal as the new naming rights sponsor of Hunter Stadium," according to Penelope Green of the NEWCASTLE HERALD. The company, which was founded 30 years ago by Bill McDonald and now operates in New South Wales, the ACT and Queensland, "also has the first option to renew its deal, brokered with Venues NSW." McDonald and Managing Dir Andrew Helmers would not disclose the value of the deal, "citing contract confidentiality with Venues NSW." Helmers said that the stadium deal was "significantly larger" than the smaller sponsorship support the company had shown in the past, including for National Rugby League side Newcastle Knights and National Basketball League side Newcastle Falcons, and aligned with its customer base (NEWCASTLE HERALD, 10/7). Australian Sports Minister Stuart Ayres said that the new sponsorship deal will be a welcome addition to football fans of all codes with funding to be reinvested back into operation of the 33,000-capacity venue. Hunter Stadium Parliamentary Secretary Scot MacDonald said that more than 1.2 million fans have attended events at Hunter Stadium in the past four years. He said, "McDonald Jones Stadium will be one of the venues which benefit from planned work to develop great sporting precinct which includes the $10 million new Hockey Centre of Excellence" (Hunter Stadium).
