Telstra secures rights for leading stadiums
For the first time, a single Australian company will take over naming rights sponsorships of two of the nation's most prestigious and technologically advanced sports and entertainment venues in Sydney and Melbourne.
Telstra's Chairman, Mr Bob Mansfield, and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ziggy Switkowski, today announced the company had secured naming rights for Stadium Australia and Colonial Stadium through to the end of 2009 with options.
Colonial Stadium will shortly become the Telstra Dome, and Stadium Australia, the stadium that played host to the Sydney 2000 Olympics, today becomes Telstra Stadium.
Mr Mansfield said the sponsorship of the two venues offered a great opportunity for the Telstra brand to be associated with two high profile, state of the art international sports and entertainment stadiums.
"Both Telstra Stadium and Telstra Dome have already established themselves as two of the premier sporting venues in Australia, hosting leading local and international sporting competition and other entertainment," Mr Mansfield said.
"With the two venues hosting events such as the State of Origin Rugby League, Tri Nations and other rugby internationals, the Telstra Premiership NRL Grand Final and AFL finals, we expect a good return on our investment through sell out stadium crowds and huge local and global TV audiences."
Dr Switkowski said that as well as the brand benefit, the sponsorships were compelling because of the synergies of technology leadership and community involvement which the Stadiums and Telstra shared.
"We've been closely involved in the two stadiums from their very early days when we were installing their telecommunications, and we know the important place they hold in the community.
This has helped us recognise the potential value of being the naming rights sponsor for these superb venues," Dr Switkowski said.
"Both have state of art facilities, using innovation and technology, that see them being classified as among the best sport and entertainment facilities in the country."
Telstra Stadium Chief Executive, Mr Ken Edwards, said Telstra's sponsorship was great news for the stadium.
"We are delighted to welcome Telstra as the first naming rights sponsor and regard this as an association between old friends after our joint efforts during the Sydney 2000 Olympics," Mr Edwards said.
"Because of the Sydney 2000 Games and other major sell out and world record crowds, this stadium will always hold fond memories for people not just in Australia but all around the world.
"As Telstra Stadium, with long term agreements with several of Australia's leading sports bodies, it will continue to host some of Australia's biggest sporting and entertainment events into the future, continuing to provide lasting memories for all who attend."
Telstra Dome Chief Executive Officer, Ian Collins, said the new deal with Telstra and the high quality of local and international events that the Stadium has secured would guarantee a very exciting future for the stadium.
"As the nation's premier telecommunications company, the Telstra name will bring further prestige to our already highly regarded venue," Mr Collins said.
"Telstra is an Australian icon. In many ways, through its staff and customers, it has developed and shaped this country to a point where today it can take its own place on any international platform.
"We are delighted to announce the union between Telstra and ourselves - both corporations are committed to the same set of values - an uncompromising level of service to our customers and world's best delivery of technical excellence."
