One of South Africa’s most iconic stadiums – Ellis Park – has sold its name rights for R45-million to Coca-Cola International and will be known in future as Coca-Cola Park.
According to a weekend article, the sale, which is the first time in history that the stadium will receive a name change, was agreed last week in a four-year deal that is likely to be confirmed this week.
The deal does not apply to the 2010 soccer World Cup, but will allow the soft drink company to use the stadium for other events in the interim.
The contract had apparently been under negotiation for the past two years and is the biggest yet for naming rights for a stadium in South Africa.
It reportedly is more than what the Blue Bulls, Cheetahs and Sharks received for the naming rights of their stadiums.
From iol.com
Walter must be delighted
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going to make them tough to beat in the transfer market…
Brrrrr Park would have been more suiteable
Oh my word!
😯
That just sounds ridiculous!!! 😆
ha ha ha. first they sell some of the stadium to orlando pirates to get them to 2008, just as incompetent and poor. then they realise to fund their average coach and headless team they need to sell the stadium name to keep them going another four years. it is time for the lions to rebrand relocate and re launch. they cannot expect to draw people back by changing the name of the stadium.
look at the sharks, just as poor a team when it comes to silverware, but they keep the fans by great marketing, a good “safe” atmosphere at the stadium and reasonable communication with the fans. the sharks keep their fans interested. but it all starts with a great matchday experience. this is why the sharks don’t want to move stadiums, the current set up is ideal.
I think some part of the deal is to upgrade the surrounding area including parking etc.
Ag we will probably still call it Ellis Park. After all…who calls Kings park, Absa stadium? 🙄
@Villie (Comment 7) : the okes from ABSA 😉
@robdylan (Comment 8) : Ja and the Press…but only because they are forced to!
I heard the rumours but haven’t seen any confirmation so I will pretend that it’s not true for now…LOL!
There’s nothing on any of our official websites…but that doesn’t mean it’s not true.
It was all over the radio this morning,also i can send you the iol link if you like 😉
We can use the money, but just like I never refer to the team as the Xerox Lions or the Auto and General Lions I will still be going to Ellis Park and not Coca Cola Park…LOL!
Actually Walter, I think they were the “Auto and General Super 14 Lions.”
Gawd that’s a mouthful!
Auto & General for S14
Xerox for CC
Cane & Coke Park
@PJLD (Comment 15) :
That’s how I have it as well..
They do this sh*t here in the US all the f*cking time and it aggravates me to no end. What is worse that the trend is like a hair aware from spreading to our college stadiums as well.
@ra-cheltjie de’ be-er (Comment 16) :
hehehe- braNNas & Coke park
ChemicalJoe must be delighted with the name change!
@Oranje Orakel (Comment 19) :
Nee, dis net Coke Park. As hulle dit Brannas en Coke park wil noem soek ons nog R45miljoen!
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 20) :
😆
Johannesburg – Lions coach Eugene Eloff is at the end of his tether and heads will undoubtedly roll for Friday night’s Currie Cup match against the Falcons at Ellis Park.
That much was clear from his post-match talks and especially from his column on the Xerox Lions’ website on Monday.
“I’m at the stage of having a no tolerance attitude,” he writes in his column and adds: “We have to change the sails of this ship and we have to change the course of our destiny this Friday against the Falcons.”
New faces in place of the habitual offenders who undo good work by their teammates are a foregone conclusion. The question is just how far Eloff is prepared to go in changing his personnel.
It is also clear that he has identified the players he is no longer prepared to carry.
“Clearly it is the same players that aren’t putting up their hands and making basic mistakes that are costing us games,” is his view.
Eloff is still upbeat about his team’s chances of reaching the play-offs. And with 12 matches to go, this is how it should be.
The Lions, as in the Super 14, put up another commendable performance without grasping their opportunities. They were clearly on top in the second half without scoring.
“I still believe in the core of our team and I do still believe we are going to be in the play-offs in this years’ Currie Cup and I still believe that we can win the Currie Cup. If I didn’t, I shouldn’t be coaching this side,” Eloff says.
“We could have won this one easily because I felt we had Free State in the scrums and the lineouts. We lost two critical lineouts in the 72nd and 75th minutes and a very interesting call from the referee gave us advantage before ending the game.”
I mailed the CEO to see if there is any truth in the story, will get back to you.
@wpw (Comment 22) : could you not have thought of a more intelligent place to paste that story? 😉
😯 😯 😯
it’s quite a werid feeling to actually be an hour ahead of you guys…
Wes, I meant you could have posted it as an article…? 😉
I know Rob…. but then there would be too many Lions threads. 😈
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 20) : no it is coke park due to all the drug dealers in the area.