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SAFC may sell stadium name
SUNDERLAND AFC is prepared to consider changing the name of the Stadium of Light (SoL), club bosses revealed today.
The board has discussed allowing a sponsor's name to be added to the title, though that could be a very controversial move.
The team's main shirt sponsor, Boylesports – whose deal expires at the end of this season – has already declined the chance to buy the stadium rights.
SAFC chairman Niall Quinn said: "Boylesports would prefer it if we found somebody else."
However, after making a pre-tax loss of 26m in the last financial year, selling the naming rights to the SoL could be one way for SAFC to raise extra cash – though club chiefs know it could alienate fans.
"The naming rights issue is an extremely emotive thing," said chief executive Steve Walton. "It would only be done if it was completely right for the business."
He added: "There have been a couple of things in that kind of area we have been looking at.
"It doesn't necessarily carry the same emotion, because it's a relatively new stadium."
The SoL was opened in 1997 and many Black Cats fans were unhappy with the name, as it duplicated that of Portuguese club Benfica's ground.
The club's stance follows Newcastle United sparking an angry backlash from fans, when owner Mike Ashley rebranded St James' Park as sportsdirect.com@St James' Park in a bid to attract a sponsor.
Some ground sponsorships have not been heavily opposed however, such as Arsenal's Emirates Stadium.
Other clubs which have had ground sponsors include Leicester City (the Walkers Stadium); Leyton Orient (the Matchroom Stadium); York City (Kit Kat Crescent); and Los Angeles Galaxy (Home Depot Centre).
SAFC could include naming rights to the Stadium of Light in a deal with new sponsors for next season.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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