Rugby Football Union Considers Selling Twickenham Stadium Naming Rights

The Rugby Football Union is "considering selling the naming rights to ­Twickenham" as it seeks to maximize the financial returns from the "historic home of English rugby," according to Gavin Mairs of the London TELEGRAPH. Twickenham is the "only remaining unsponsored stadium of the four home unions" and any commercial deal to alter the name of the venue is "likely to anger traditionalists." However, the RFU is investing £54M ($72.3M) in a redevelopment of the East Stand of the 82,000-seat stadium and said that it is "open-minded" about the possibility of a naming rights sponsorship deal. RFU CEO Stephen Brown said, "We wouldn't rule out any appropriate commercial opportunity for the venue, the fan-base and the stakeholders." Meanwhile, the RFU is "unlikely to follow" the FA and invest in a national training center similar to the £120M ($160.6M) facility at St. George's Park as recommended in a '13 review of elite structure (TELEGRAPH, 9/30).