STADIUM GETS A NAME AT LAST!

18 October 2005

Swansea's £27 million new stadium finally has a new name and sponsor. Sports fans in the city have a new place to call home - the Liberty Stadium. The Post can today reveal city-based developers Liberty Properties has been unveiled as the new sponsor for the home of both Swansea City and the Ospreys.

The six figure deal, thought to be worth in excess of £500,000, finally draws a line under the saga of what the stadium will be called. Football and rugby fans in the city have waited more than 14 months to learn what the Morfa stadium would be called after the popular tag of White Rock was dropped.

Council bosses said they wanted a blank slate in a bid to attract a new sponsor and simply called the ground The New Stadium Swansea.

But that is now in the past as Liberty, which has offices in the enterprise park as well as London and Chester, has been confirmed as the new headline sponsors for the stadium for the next five years.

Scott Gibbs, Liberty's development manager, said: "We're tremendously proud and excited to be investing in the new stadium in Swansea.

"We saw the chance to sponsor such a flagship stadium as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the company.

"We're thrilled to be able to support and celebrate such an important landmark for the area.

"Stadium bosses said there were a number of national and international companies interested in sponsoring the stadium.Councillor Gerald Clement, chairman of stadium management firm StadCo, signed the deal today.

He said: "We're delighted to announce that Liberty Properties has signed a five-year deal to be associated with Wales's top regional stadium."We have been working very hard to find the right top name sponsor and we are thrilled to have Liberty Properties as our partner.

"Liberty is a strong, confident name in its own right and offers us all the right positive associations.

"I'm confident that the Liberty Stadium will soon become a watchword among sporting fans for the very best in sporting and entertainment facilities."S

wansea Council leader Chris Holley said there was never a doubt that a sponsor would be found for the stadium.

He said: "I know that Liberty Stadium will become a name associated with all that is great about rugby, football and Swansea."It is not known who the other bidders in the naming race were, although at one stage communications company ntl and motor dealership FRF were thought to be interested.

One Swans fan said today: "It is good news and a strong name for the future."