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Manchester United’s shirt sponsor Snapdragon has expressed an interest in buying the naming rights to Old Trafford or a possible new stadium.
The American technology company signed a three-year shirt sponsor deal with the English side last year worth $225m (£176m/€205m).
The club has never sold its stadium naming rights but Snapdragon chief marketing officer Don McGuire is optimistic about a potential deal.
It would not be the firm’s first naming rights agreement as it has the rights to the stadium in San Diego where Manchester United played Real Betis on August 1.
“Old Trafford is Old Trafford, it should always be Old Trafford [or whatever any new stadium name is],” McGuire said, as reported by The Guardian.
“But if there is a brand attached to that in some way shape or form, powered by someone, an ‘at’ or whatever [it could happen]. For example, this is Snapdragon Stadium at Bashor Field.
“We are working very closely with the team on the reimagination of Old Trafford from a technology and innovation standpoint. And Carrington [the training base]. So, if that leads to something bigger, where it would make sense for us to go even bigger – this [shirt sponsorship] is pretty big by the way, not inexpensive – we are always looking out for opportunities.”
Manchester United is considering whether to build a new stadium or revamp Old Trafford, with a task force assembled to inform the decision.
The task force was formed to oversee options for the regeneration of the Old Trafford area of Greater Manchester, with the development of a “world-class” football stadium at the heart of the project.
A new stadium is favoured by Sir Jim Ratcliffe who is the minority owner driving the project and wants the club to decide by December.
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