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Liverpool’s Echo Arena set for new name

Liverpool’s Echo Arena is to be rebranded as M&S Bank Arena as part of a naming-rights agreement with the financial services company.

The rebrand will come into effect in early 2019. The Liverpool Echo newspaper, which has held naming rights to the arena since it opened in 2008, will continue to serve as a key business partner of the venue.

The arena has hosted over 1,200 performances over the past decade, including the European MTV Awards, tennis’s Davis Cup, a Sir Paul McCartney concert, the MOBO Awards and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

M&S Bank chief executive Sue Fox said: “M&S Bank has been based in the North West since the business was formed in 1985, it has continued to evolve over this time to the full service bank it is today and our past, present and future are firmly rooted in the region.

“We’re very much committed to supporting our local community and over the last 10 years we’ve seen the arena bring a phenomenal breadth of entertainment and cultural events to the city of Liverpool, it has also delivered fantastic economic benefits to the city and the wider region. We’re extremely delighted to be a part of something incredibly special and look forward to the launch of the M&S Bank Arena early in 2019.”

Echo editor Ali Machray added: “We are proud to have helped create something that all of Liverpool has taken to its heart. The last 10 years have seen the Arena become an iconic venue. In that time the city has enjoyed spectacular growth and The Echo has powered ahead in digital media to underline its position among the best-known and most powerful regional media brands in the world.

“We will work closely with ACC Liverpool and M&S Bank to ensure the next ten years are as thrilling and successful as the last.”

The arena forms part of the ACC Liverpool complex, which also includes the Convention Centre and Exhibition Centre Liverpool.

Image: Echo Arena