PLEDGE OVER NAME FOR NEW STADIUM

6 April 2005

A Number of companies are looking at sponsoring Swansea's new £27 million stadium, according to bosses. But they insist the success or failure of Swansea Football Club's promotion push will not affect any deal.

The club are currently in third place fighting for automatic promotion to Coca-Cola Division One.

But bosses at StadCo, the company managing the stadium, say the result of their fight will not affect their search for a sponsor for the 20,200-seat ground.

They say the negotiations for the deal are still ongoing and have denied that sponsors are holding back to see which league the Swans will be playing in next season before putting pen to paper.

A spokesman for StadCo said: "The naming rights package is a great opportunity for a brand to play a long-term role in one of Europe's finest new stadiums.

"If Swansea City do gain promotion then obviously it would be a fantastic boost for both the city and the new stadium.

"However, it is a long-term proposition which isn't based on one season of success.

"There are a number of brands who are already interested in taking the naming rights, regardless of the Swans' promotion fortunes."

Stadium bosses are hoping to have a main sponsor in place by the end of June.Work is nearing completion on the facility which will be ready to welcome the Swans and the Neath-Swansea Ospreys to their new home next season.

A high-profile curtain raiser is being planned by representatives from both clubs and the council, who make up the management company.

A number of big names from the worlds of football and rugby have been linked with the event at the stadium with, as yet, no name.

Councillor Gerald Clement, the cabinet member for culture, recreation and tourism, is confident naming rights for the ground will be secured soon.

The Ospreys have already been crowned champions but stadium bosses say whether or not the Swans follow their lead and gain promotion, the deal for naming rights will go ahead.

The spokesman said: "The negotiations with interested brands are ongoing.

"We are still looking at a figure of approximately £250,000 per season for a brand to obtain the stadium's naming rights."