Tigers' spiritual home to become Westpac Oval (Australian)

[mightytiges]

Tigers' spiritual home to become Westpac Oval
Greg Denham From: The Australian April 1, 2010

Even just the thought of it may rile the Tigers of Old, but the spiritual home of the Richmond Football Club, Punt Road Oval, will from 2011 be renamed 'Westpac Oval' in a deal worth $4 million over 5 years.

In a move backed strongly by new Tigers' CEO Brendon Gale and President Gary March, the club has been pushing for ways to increase the Tigers' non-football revenue base as part of its controversial 3-0-75 initiative announced recently. Part of the initative is to eliminate the club's debt by 2014 which currently stands at $4.5 million.

It is believed that Richmond has over the past six months been searching widely for a naming rights sponsor for its traditional home to coincide with the completion of the redevelopment of Punt Road Oval and Indigenous Institute of Learning expected at the end of this year.

A spokesperson for Westpac declined to comment on the details but it is expected the deal will be formally signed off late next week and be officially announced by Gale at the Tigers' Club 80 function on April 20.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/tigers-spiritual-home-to-become-westpac-oval/story-e6frg7mf-1225848233096

[WilliamPowell]

Happy to have the Indigenous Institute of Learning carry a sponsors name but re-naming Punt Road Oval doesn't sit will with me. I am a traditionalist and Punt Road will always be Punt Road

Understand why they would doing it, the beneifts etc but doesn't mean I like it

Interestingly, if this goes through this will be the 3rd AFL venue that Westpac will be sponsoring. Crows, Pies and now Tigers and we would appear to be gettng the least amount of $$$$...good to see those interest rate rises at work 

 

[Smokey]

I have no issue with it - Punt Rd will always be Punt Rd in the minds of those that matter, regardless of what they call it in the media.  We are doing exactly what Benny promised and outlined in our plan and that keeps my confidence level high for the future.  And as far as "controversial" 3-0-75 plan?  It's only been controversial in the eyes of the usual media-bashers, no-one outside of these fools has had much of anything to say, good or bad.  Talk about invent your own controversy!  Tossers.

[richmondrules]

What's the date again?

[Mr Magic]

What's the date again?

Heh heh, he got a few..

I notice the article has now disappeared.

[wayne]

This has to be an April Fools gag doesn't it?

Isn't the Lexus centre now the Westpac centre?

[TigerLand]

100% agree smokey.

Punt Road is Punt Road and always will be. If the media wont to refer to it as the Westpac Oval and have it billed as Westpac Oval in the community for 5 years for $4 mil then so be it. Great initiative by the club. I'd prefer they do this then go down to Tasmania for 4 or 5 home games for 4 million.

[Smokey]

I fear I may have tumbled!  I spotted the one on the local radio this morning re: naked photos of Alfie Langer but this one slipped through to the keeper.

 

[WilliamPowell]

I fear I may have tumbled!  I spotted the one on the local radio this morning re: naked photos of Alfie Langer but this one slipped through to the keeper.

 

I think I've been had "hook line & sinker" 

 

[wayne]

They'd be silly not to look at a sponsor though (and probably are). It's in prime position, gets plenty of traffic and could earn us a bit of money.

[Owl]

lol Punked Road football oval. 

[3rogerd]

Gail likes spending money on PR...
well too many CL's.

[tiger till i die]

i am against the idea ... were is our sense of pride in history .. sure ist not going any were but its like chnaging the name of the tigers to wespac tigers :S or some ridiculous name ... and im pretty sure more than 85 persent would agree with me. all i can see is greed for money thats all 


.... wespac oval .. what a joke

or even say wespac presents Punt road or just stick there logo on the walls and next to the sign

[Owl]

lol its ok 1st of april is over now.

[bojangles17]

not as silly as it sounds, Im certain at some stage they will open sponsorship opportunities to the right partner, can't be too sanctimonious if we are earnest in eradicating our debt