Twickenham is to be renamed Allianz Stadium from September after the Rugby Soccer Union signed a long-term take care of the insurance coverage firm.
For the primary time because it was inbuilt 1907, the 82,000-seater residence of English rugby shall be rebranded as a part of an settlement that the RFU insists shall be “transformative” for the sport.
The primary fixture to be performed at Twickenham below its new title is the Pink Roses’ conflict with New Zealand on September 14.
England Rugby and @allianzuknews have agreed a long-term partnership, which is able to see vital funding into the sport in any respect ranges with the house of England Rugby, Twickenham changing into Allianz Stadium from September.
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) August 5, 2024
The RFU declined to disclose the quantity being paid by Allianz for the naming rights, as properly its funding into the senior England groups and neighborhood sport, however described it as “vital”.
“We’re actually happy to be increasing our partnership with Allianz, enabling additional funding into the neighborhood {and professional} sport,” RFU chief govt Invoice Sweeney stated.
“This is a chance to rejoice our stadium’s proud legacy whereas growing it for the longer term.
“This partnership will help us in shifting the sport in a route which serves all rugby, from minis to the elites, from membership coaches to our nationwide coaches and the whole lot in between.
“Over the approaching years, the RFU and Allianz will work collectively to boost customer experiences and supply followers and the local people with the very best match day and occasion experiences.
“As we head in the direction of internet hosting the ladies’s World Cup in 2025, it’s completely becoming that the primary sport to be performed on the newly named Allianz Stadium would be the Pink Roses versus New Zealand on 14 September.”
Given Twickenham’s historical past, the transfer is controversial and shall be met with opposition even when it’s the final of the 4 residence union stadiums to hold a sponsor title.
It’s the first of England’s three main nationwide group venues to be rebranded with Wembley and Lord’s remaining unchanged for England’s soccer and cricket sides respectively.
The transfer comes after the RFU reported a lack of £6.3million and working revenue of £4m when asserting its figures for the 2022-23 monetary yr.
As a part of the its monetary report launched in December, the English sport’s governing physique acknowledged it was working in a “very troublesome monetary setting”, a truth underlined by the collapse of Wasps, Worcester and London Irish through the 2022-23 season.
The RFU revealed in February that it was aiming to start renovations of Twickenham in 2027 after rejecting a proposal to make Wembley the brand new residence of English rugby.
Shopping for a 50 per cent share in Wembley from the Soccer Affiliation was thought of by the RFU’s board in March final yr earlier than the thought was discounted with no formal method to the FA being made.
