Features

Wembley will not feature gambling sponsors under new owner

Wembley Stadium will not feature the branding of gambling companies should it be sold to Shahid Khan later this year, according to The Times.

The newspaper has reported that any new owner of the stadium would be banned from signing future sponsorship deals with gambling companies.

The restriction has been put in place after the English Football Association, which owns Wembley, last year opted to end its partnership with betting company Ladbrokes. At the time, FA chief executive Martin Glenn thanked Ladbrokes for being a valued partner and for its understanding about the FA’s “change of policy around gambling”.

Khan is the owner of NFL team the Jacksonville Jaguars and English Premier League outfit Fulham. The Times’ report added that Khan would not be allowed to display Jaguars branding inside Wembley on a permanent basis should he be successful in his bid for the stadium.

Earlier this year, Khan submitted a bid worth a reported £600m for Wembley and a decision from the FA is expected before the end of the year. It has already been made clear that Wembley cannot be renamed until at least 2057 under the terms of the deal. Other restrictions placed on future owners of the stadium include an obligation to retain Wembley’s grass pitch.

Khan’s Jaguars have a multi-year deal in place to play NFL games in London and Khan feels that ownership of Wembley would prove beneficial for all parties.

Image: M(e)ister Eiskalt