How would you feel if Brunton Park was re-named by a sponsor?
How would you feel if Brunton Park was no longer “Brunton Park”?
The idea of a different, sponsorship-led title for Carlisle United was floated at last week’s fans’ forum.
The Blues’ historic ground has so far never had a title sponsor, unlike the stadiums of many of their EFL peers.
Owner Tom Piatak confirmed that it was something that United were open to, and had been pursuing, even if there were no “active” discussions right now.
“It’s certainly something that we’ve discussed,” said Piatak, in response to a question on whether the club had considered selling naming rights to Brunton Park.
“We’ve gone through the entire hospitality and sponsorship packages, [and] that’s one that’s open.
“I’ve made a few calls to some significant businesses, trying to push it. It hasn’t come to fruition right now but I do think there’s an opportunity.
“It will always be Brunton Park but I do think that could be a significant revenue stream.
“As we start to come out of this relegation fight and start moving up I think there are going to be some hopefully significant brands that are going to recognise the value of being associated with Carlisle and Brunton Park.
Owner Tom Piatak said he'd spoken to companies about the opportunity of sponsoring Brunton Park (Image: Barbara Abbott)
“It’s certainly a possibility and it’s something that we’re looking at but nothing is active right now.”
This is not the first time Carlisle have looked at acquiring a title sponsor for their ground.
Ahead of the 2021/22 season, their commercial brochure put forward stadium naming rights among the opportunities on offer.
It was not made public then, and likewise now, how much money United would be seeking for a company to sponsor Brunton Park.
That brochure three-and-a-half years ago indicated that they were “open-minded” to opportunities, and said at the time that naming rights would give a firm “constant exposure through national and local media, official club channels and on all season and match tickets. The sponsor’s branding will be present on signage both inside and outside of the stadium in addition to further advertisement including internationally through video games like FIFA, Football Manager and Google Maps.”
Nothing came of that yet United are in a minority of clubs in League Two who do not have a stadium title sponsor.
Some 14 of their rivals have sold naming rights with ten having not changed their ground’s name in such a way.
Those clubs in the fourth tier whose stadium carries a sponsor’s name are: Walsall (Poundland Bescot Stadium), Crewe Alexandra (Mornflake Stadium), Salford City (Peninsula Stadium), AFC Wimbledon (Cherry Red Records Stadium), Doncaster Rovers (Eco-Power Stadium), Bradford City (University of Bradford Stadium), Chesterfield (SMH Group Stadium), Cheltenham Town (EV Charger Points Stadium), Gillingham (MEMS Priestfield Stadium), Barrow (SO Legal Stadium), Colchester United (JobServe Community Stadium), Accrington Stanley (Wham Stadium), Harrogate Town (Exercise Stadium) and Morecambe (Mazuma Mobile Stadium).
Those along with United whose ground does not have a title sponsor are Port Vale (Vale Park), Notts County (Meadow Lane), Grimsby Town (Blundell Park), MK Dons (Stadium MK), Bromley (Hayes Lane Stadium), Fleetwood Town (Highbury Stadium), Newport County (Rodney Parade), Tranmere Rovers (Prenton Park) and Swindon Town (Nigel Eady County Ground – named after the late lifelong fan whose trust funded the purchase of the ground from the borough council).
