EPL club Manchester City Friday morning announced a "hugely lucrative stadium naming-rights package" with Etihad Airways, according to James Ducker of the LONDON TIMES. The deal will rebrand City of Manchester Stadium "under the banner" of the United Arab Emirates government-owned airline. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but it is estimated to be worth US$16-24M annually. Etihad also sponsors Man City's uniforms. That agreement "expires at the end of next season but it is unclear whether the naming rights package will include a new, renegotiated shirt deal." While Man City is owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, "one of the world's richest men, a naming-rights deal is considered integral to their plans to boost commercial revenues and become more self-sustaining." Ducker notes that is "particularly important because UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules will be introduced for the 2012-13 season in an attempt to curb excessive spending and encourage clubs to balance their books." The naming-rights agreement is "likely to be scrutinised by UEFA, which will be eager to ensure that deals relating to stadium naming rights, kit manufacturers or 'territory specific' partnerships do not vastly exceed market value" (LONDON TIMES, 7/8). The GUARDIAN's Taylor & Gibson note Man City "have been trying to increase their revenue to meet UEFA's new criteria but Etihad's close links with the club's owners will almost certainly mean UEFA [will] seek to ascertain that the airline has not paid an inflated price" (GUARDIAN, 7/8). In London, Ian Herbert notes the deal "will certainly help City to compete in the Champions League" (London INDEPENDENT, 7/8).
TIME TO MOVE ON? Liverpool Owner John Henry acknowledged that the EPL club "may be forced to move to a new stadium" as it seeks "greater match day revenues because the preferred option of the club redeveloping Anfield presents 'many obstacles.'" Fenway Sports Group after taking control of the club in October "set about reassessing whether Liverpool could remain at a redeveloped Anfield." Henry "has accepted there are a number of difficulties, from financial, logistical and geographical points of view, associated with revamping Anfield into a 60,000-plus capacity arena" (TELEGRAPH.co.uk, 7/8).
