Paul Bayliss, the former leader of Derby City Council, has urged the council to work with the city’s football club to bring in a naming rights sponsor for both Pride Park Stadium and Derby Arena.
According to the Derby Telegraph, Bayliss said it would be a “very good idea” for the two parties to work together, as a sponsorship deal would be of benefit for both the council and Derby County, which plays its home games at Pride Park.
Bayliss said that getting a sponsor to commit to both venues would make sense, as the sites are located next to each other, and put his idea to Claire Davenport, director of leisure, culture and tourism for Derby City Council. Davenport agreed that it is something the council could look at.
Bayliss also said additional funding from a naming rights deal would help with financial costs at Derby Arena. Since 2014, more than £2.4m (€2.7m/$3.4m) in taxpayers’ money has been used to subsidise the venue and is yet to reach a break-even point.
“It’s a very good idea in my opinion to work with Derby County to get the same sponsor for both venues and get the same naming rights,” Bayliss said. “The two venues are only separated by a car park.
“I know when I was leader the conversation was ongoing and people were keen. It’s a big bang for the buck for the council.
“It would mean having a closer relationship with the football club, the company would get greater exposure with two venues and it would bring in very useful revenue for the council.
“It makes perfect sense. It could make Derby Arena profitable quite easily.”
Image: Richard Croft
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