MOBILE phone retailer, Phones 4u, has signed a 5 year, multi-million pound sponsorship deal to rename the Manchester Arena as the Phones 4u Arena – Manchester.
"The partnership is also particularly relevant considering the rapid convergence of the entertainment and mobile space and over time, will allow us to deliver a whole host of exclusive benefits to our customers.
A refurbishment of the arena’s interior and exterior will now take place as part of the agreement with the arena's management company SMG Europe.
The 21,000 seater arena, is the second busiest indoor arena in the world after the O2 Arena in London, with 1.2 million ticket sales each year. Phones4u customers will now get the opportunity to secure priority seats for concerts and other events.
The arena first opened in 1995 as the Nynex Arena until 1998, when the Manchester Evening News became the new sponsors in a deal which ended in 2011. The venue has since been known as the Manchester Arena, while awaiting a new naming rights partner.
Scott Hooton, Chief Commercial Officer at Phones 4u, said: "This is an incredibly exciting time in Phones 4u’s history as our brand grows and evolves, and strives to engage with a broader audience.
"The partnership is also particularly relevant considering the rapid convergence of the entertainment and mobile space and over time, will allow us to deliver a whole host of exclusive benefits to our customers. Mobile phones are increasingly becoming central to the way people create, experience and share entertainment, whether in their own living room or in a large arena."
