June 22, 2010

Brighton & Hove Albion FC announce naming rights for new stadium

The club is delighted to announce that their new home will be known as the 'American Express Community Stadium', after agreeing a multi-year naming rights deal with the worldwide travel, financial and network services company.

Chairman Tony Bloom said, "This is a landmark deal. We are very proud of our fabulous new stadium and to have such a prestigious global brand prepared to put its name to it shows just how good it is."

Michael Edwards, Senior Vice President at American Express, added, "We are delighted to be part of this collaboration with the Club on what will undoubtedly be a major destination for Brighton & Hove.
"As the city's largest private-sector employer, this partnership underscores our long term commitment to the area and builds upon our thirty-year heritage of supporting local community initiatives".
The long-awaited KSS designed 22,500-capacity stadium has attracted huge interest from fans, the public and the Brighton & Hove business community who eagerly anticipate the completion of the project next year. The American Express Community Stadium will house the important charitable arm of the club Albion in the Community and provide many opportunities to extend the work of the charity in areas of education, skills training, health and social inclusion.
In addition to outstanding sporting facilities, the stadium will be used to promote community engagement in the local area, by enabling young people and adults to learn new skills and gain qualifications which will be of long-term benefit to the local community and economy.
To this end, the stadium will run an on-going series of innovative learning initiatives and social inclusion programmes, many of which will be delivered via the Albion in the Community programme.
Construction of the stadium commenced in December 2008 and is due for completion at the end of May 2011, ready for the start of the 2011/12 Football League Season.