Magazine - Subi Name Change Good for the Game

By Editor in A.F.L on 23rd Mar 2010 10:00

The WA Football Commission says selling the naming rights for will be in the "best interests" of football, with reports finance company Patersons is ready to spend millions to have their name on the home of WA football.

The Seven Network reported last night that the stockbroking firm and the WAFC were on the verge of a $5 million, four-year deal which would hand over the naming rights of the historic ground. Internet firm iiNet and mortgage firm Homeloans are also said to be interested in a possible deal.

WAFC CEO Wayne Bradshaw said they were "continually exploring options" to fund the growth of football. "It is an exciting prospect and negotiations are advancing with Patersons Securities however nothing has been confirmed and details are still being discussed. There is nothing to announce until all negotiations are finalised," Bradshaw said. "Naming rights for Subiaco Oval is not a new concept – it has been identified for a number of years as an option for funding the future of football and grass-roots competitions in our state. "Naming rights has occurred at almost every other major sporting venue in Australia, while we have banked on the success of our lease and management arrangements to fund our State’s enormous growth in participation numbers."

Bradshaw said football had to move with the times as the game continued to expand. "Participation has increased by 91 per cent in the last six years alone in WA, taking total numbers to over 120,000, so we must plan to meet this continual growth," Bradshaw said.

The possible sale of the Subiaco name is likely to cause widespread debate, as it did in 2005 when suggestions that the stadium be renamed "Anzac Field" were floated.

It was eventually but rejected by the then Minister for Veterans Affairs, Deanne Kelly, who said she would not be able to justify the name change to Australia's surviving diggers.

Patersons is one of Australia's leading specialist stockbroking and financial services firm, who are expanding their business further into Perth after recruiting the management team behind the Western Australian arm of RBS Morgans.


Source & More: www.watoday.com.au

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