Headingley stadium

Sponsorship kick-starts major sports stadium redevelopment



A sponsorship agreement for Headingley Stadium will support the start of its major redevelopment plans.


Emerald Group has acquired the naming rights to Headingley Stadium after signing an agreement with Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Leeds Rhinos.

The Yorkshire-based publishing group’s agreement will commence at the beginning of November and will see the ground renamed as the Emerald Headingley Stadium.

The stadiums will be renamed independently as Emerald Headingley Cricket Ground and Emerald Rugby Stadium.

The deal will also see the naming of the new north-south stand as the Emerald Stand upon the completion of its redevelopment in 2019.

The 450-seater banqueting suite will be called the Emerald Suite.

“We are very excited to enter into partnership with Emerald Group, who have just celebrated 50 years since being founded in Bradford in 1967,” said Mark Arthur, chief executive of Yorkshire CCC.

“This is a unique joint venture between the club, the Rhinos and Emerald and underpins the development of the north-south stand, which will now be called the Emerald Stand.”

The agreement will support the major redevelopment of the ground after Leeds Rhinos revealed that the demolition of the south stand will begin at the end of August this year, followed by the main stand at the end of the current Super League season.

“This sponsorship is another vital step in our vision to transform our home once again into an iconic sporting venue with the exciting redevelopment plans set to begin in late summer,” added Gary Hetherington, chief executive of Leeds Rhinos.

Dr Keith Howard, chairman of the Emerald Group, added: “In our 50th year, Emerald looks forward to an exciting future.

“As a business founded in Yorkshire, it’s important that we support our local community, so it’s fitting that we’re working with Headingley Stadium to continue to host world-class sport.”



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