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Cheetahs, Gold Coast Suns extend with stadium sponsors

South African rugby union team the Cheetahs and AFL Aussie rules football club the Gold Coast Suns have extended agreements with the naming rights partners of their respective stadia.

Japanese automotive manufacturer Toyota will continue as the main sponsor of the Cheetahs for another three years. Toyota South Africa Motors has partnered with the Bloemfontein-based club for the past eight years and the new deal will extend these ties through to 2022.

The 46,000-capacity Toyota Stadium (pictured) was developed for South Africa’s staging of the 1995 Rugby World Cup and also hosted games during football’s 2010 FIFA World Cup. The new contract will also still include title sponsorship for the Cheetahs Pro14, Currie Cup, Rugby Challenge and junior teams.

The Cheetahs made the move from Super Rugby to Europe’s Pro14 competition in the 2017-18 season. The two parties said the next three years of their association will focus on engaging with fans and supporters in South Africa and around the world.

Meanwhile, Australia’s largest home-builder, Metricon Homes, has signed a four-year extension to its deal with the Suns. Metricon will retain naming rights to the 25,000-seat Metricon Stadium until the end of 2022, along with holding the exclusive rights as the club’s official residential construction partner.

In partnership with the Suns, Metricon has worked to enhance the matchday experience for club members and fans. Ahead of the Suns’ opening home game of the 2019 season on Sunday, Metricon has built a new double story activation site to be known as ‘The Terrace’. This facility will be utilised as an entertainment outlet for Metricon clients and contractors as well as for members and fans attending the stadium.

GC Suns CEO Mark Evans said: “In the week leading into our first home game of the season, it’s exciting to be able to announce an extension to an eight year partnership between the Suns and Metricon Homes.

“Metricon Homes have supported us since the club’s inception and are committed to not only helping the Gold Coast Suns grow, but AFL in Queensland. Metricon Stadium has become synonymous throughout the Gold Coast as a fantastic community asset, and throughout the country as an industry leading sporting precinct.”

Image: Cheetahs