THE SCOTTISH RUGBY UNION has confirmed that BT Sport have secured naming rights for Murrayfield in a “multi-million pound” sponsorship deal.
The same four-year contract will see BT sponsoring the the Scottish 7s team, Scotland’s domestic league and cup competitions and Scottish Rugby’s four new academies.
BT’s logo is already emblazoned across the front of the jerseys of Scottish Pro12 sides Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh, while the broadcaster recently agreed a deal for three of the Welsh regions to wear the same logo from next season on.
As well as the Scarlets, Dragons and Ospreys carrying that prominent jersey marking, the Cardiff Blues’ home stadium has been re-named ‘BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park’.
This latest deal with the SRU sees Murrayfield re-branded as ‘BT Murrayfield Stadium,’ on what the the union’s chief executive Mark Dodson called “a momentous day for Scottish rugby.”
“While the headlines may be dominated by the naming rights of the stadium, today’s announcement underlines BT’s alignment to our own values and goals, particularly that rugby clubs are the heart and soul of their communities that offer a welcome to all, young and old, boys and girls, men and women,” continued Dodson.
“This new funding underlines our desire to deliver more opportunities for young people to take up our game and broaden the reach of rugby across Scotland.”
The financial boost is a timely one for the game in Scotland, with some reports stating that BT Sport’s investment has completely wiped clear the SRU’s £11 million debt. Such a relief would have knock-on effects for the two Scottish Pro12 teams, whose budgets have been restricted in recent years.
For BT, this is another step forward in their battle with Sky Sports for dominance in the rugby market, even if the latter owns TV rights for screening Pro12 games from next season onwards.
Surely only a matter of time now before it’s BT Thomond Park, BT Ravenhill, etc…
Only a matter of time too before they buy the full premier league package. Next we will see croke park renamed sky sports croke park arena.
If you are going to rename your stadium I guess keeping the original name and sticking the letters BT before is probably the least offensive option….
I’d nearly sponsor the Edinburgh team to not play their home games in Murrayfield! Absolutely dead atmosphere which takes away from the games played there! I can’t explain why it annoys me so much but it does!!
Yea, should be played in a much smaller venue.
Good news for the rabo, we need the Scottish union to be financially secure and able to finance two quality teams to the league to keep things competitive. There’s even talk of a third Scottish club opening in Aberdeen, which would be great.
I don’t care about stadium naming rights,but this nauseating ‘Sponsor X’s values and ethics really align with our own’ PR bullshit is just the worst kind of nonsense.
There was an article in the times last November saying BT were in advanced negotiations with the Irish provinces too over forms of sponsorship like shirts etc. the welsh & Scottish BT deals were mentioned in the sane article. Will be interesting to see if there is an announcement in this regard in the coming weeks.
BT Thomand park?? They can BT feck off!!
Great news for Scottish rugby and for the Pro12 to have the finances to keep Glasgow competitive and help to improve Edinburgh. I just hope the long term knock on effect isn’t the devaluing of the Pro12 brand to SKY Sports if/ when it comes time to review the broadcasting agreement, as potentially SKY money could be the making or breaking of the league when it comes to competing with the English and French equivalents.
Fair play to them, I never understand some of the negativity about naming rights. Like when Musgrave park was renamed Irish Independent park the paper got slated rather than praised for supporting the game
I’d prefer Sky across the Leinster jersey than a bankrupt state owned Bank!