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Local college acquires naming rights to Hull KR stadium

English Super League club Hull Kingston Rovers has reached an agreement with Hull College for the local education facility to take on naming rights to its Craven Park home stadium.

The three-year deal will come into effect from 2020 and will result in the ground being rebranded as Hull College Craven Park.

Hull College will replace local communications provider KCOM as the naming-rights partner of the 12,000-seat Craven Park. KCOM also sponsors the city’s KCOM Stadium, home to rival rugby league club Hull FC and Championship football team Hull City.

Hull College’s “bespoke educational partnership” with Hull KR is set to provide optional career pathways to players at the club.

Hull KR chief executive Mike Smith said: “We want to offer players optional career pathways in education or apprenticeships, and Hull College will be a strong partner for the club in supporting these opportunities.

“Whilst all professional players at our club strive to have a long and distinguished career in rugby league, the importance of creating long-term career opportunities within sport or further afield is very important to our holistic development within our whole club culture.

“I’m delighted to say that the newly-rebranded Hull College Craven Park will be central to delivering that vision. We are all looking forward to working with Hull College across the next three years, with further link-ups to follow in the near future.”

Smith has also confirmed that the club is in talks with Hull City Council to purchase Craven Park, its home since 1989.

Smith told local news outlet Hull Live: “It’s a slow burner is the word I’ll use. (There are) negotiations taking place. It’s something that certainly Neil (Hudgell) would like as the owner of the club and get the full use of the stadium back so we’ve got full control of it and develop it as well. It’s about developing.”

Image: Hull KR