Feature

London Stadium sponsor search on hold during World Athletics Championships

Operators of London’s Olympic Stadium are said to be taking a break from the search for a new naming-rights sponsor for the venue.

The 66,000-seat facility, which for the time being is known as the London Stadium, is yet to land a naming-rights partner and it is hoped the ongoing World Athletics Championships at the venue will remind prospective sponsors of the stadium’s appeal, according to the Daily Mail.

The newspaper reports that the relevant parties will wait until after the conclusion of the event on August 13 before resuming the search.

Last month, it was reported by the Mail that owners of the stadium are expected to steer clear of betting companies when selecting a sponsor for the venue. Main venue tenant, English Premier League football club West Ham United, is sponsored by gambling company Betway and there is said to be a preference to avoid a conflict with the firm and a rival outlet.

Telecommunications giant Vodafone had been close to sealing a six-year deal to become London Stadium’s sponsor, but an agreement fell through. Indian conglomerate Mahindra is known to have held talks over a possible deal, while electronics manufacturer Samsung and the Heineken brewery have also been linked with taking on naming rights to the venue.

London Stadium was built to serve as the hub of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 and now primarily serves as the home of West Ham.

Image: Gerard McGovern