New Sponsorship For Hampshire Cricket
Hampshire Cricket and Ageas are delighted to announce a Ground Naming Rights partnership deal which will see the Club’s iconic home ground renamed, The Ageas Bowl.
The re-brand of the stadium will commence immediately with a launch scheduled to coincide with Hampshire Cricket’s Press Day on 10 April 2012. The agreement with Ageas, whose Head Office is based in Eastleigh, is for six years.
The partnership signals significant long-term investment into the Club and enables Ageas to be central players in an exciting future for the venue. The Ageas Bowl will host two England One Day Internationals this summer against the West Indies and South Africa.
In addition to the stadium re-branding the partnership between Hampshire Cricket and Ageas will also benefit a wide number of community events and projects.
Hampshire Cricket Chairman Rod Bransgrove, said; “We are delighted to be entering into this partnership with Ageas. The nature of the deal ensures long-term investment in the Club, allowing us to continue to grow as a venue. That, in turn, means we can improve our customer’s experience, be they cricket fans here to enjoy an England or Hampshire match, or any one of the tens of thousands of people who use the venue each year for their weddings, Christmas parties, conferences and events.
“Ageas have recognised the legacy we are building at the venue and wish to add to the excellent work done by the Club and the Hampshire Cricket Board. They are as keen as we are to be involved in the community and to create a lasting legacy for people in Hampshire, utilising the power of sport, and cricket in particular, to engage with them and the wider region. The name of our ground is important and so I am happy that we are partnering with a company based here in Eastleigh and together we can share an exciting future.”
Barry Smith, CEO at Ageas UK commented: “We are delighted to be partnering with Hampshire Cricket to launch The Ageas Bowl. This partnership provides us with an excellent platform to continue to raise the profile of the Ageas brand in our local area. The Rose Bowl has generated local and international recognition for cricket but also hosts a number of prestigious events including concerts and family events. With the developments of a new hotel and golf course, we very much look forward to continuing to work with the Club on what will prove to be a very exciting partnership.”
Commenting on what has been a busy few months for the executive team at Hampshire Cricket, Rod Bransgrove added “This is the second major announcement that we have been able to make in the off season and I must thank my team, and all our partners including Eastleigh Borough Council and Ageas for their support and commitment to what we are trying to achieve.
“Our aim has always been to deliver the first model test venue and with the continued support of our partners, I know that The Ageas Bowl and Hampshire Cricket will go from strength to strength."
The deal does not affect the rights of any other sponsors of Hampshire Cricket or Team England.
