Australia delivers 'clean' stadiums for AFC Asian Cup

With the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup underway, host venues have had their familiar naming rights and regular sponsors removed to make way the event’s partners.

With Asia's biggest football tournament underway, Melbourne’s AAMI Park has returned to being know as the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Canberra’s GIO Stadium has reverted to being the Canberra Stadium, Sydney’s ANZ Stadium is now Stadium Australia (the name by which it was known during the 2000 Olympics), the Suncorp Stadium is now Brisbane Stadium and Newcastle’s Hunter Stadium is now the Newcastle Stadium.

Football Federation Australia and each venues’ agreement to host the Asian Cup came with an obligation to provide a ‘clean venue.’

This has seen signs and brands usually associated with each venue removed.

ACT Government Deputy Director-General Events and Sport Gary Rake said providing a clean slate for sponsors was standard practice for big events worldwide.

He told The Canberra Times that the same process would take place at Manuka Oval in time for the Cricket World Cup next month.

Rake explained “our partners recognise and understand that for major events we need to remove their recognition and provide a clean venue, which means the removal of sponsors' signage normally in place so event organisers can bring in their own sponsors.

Banners at each venue promote the Asian Cup’s tournament partners.

An Asian Football Confederation statement said the organisation had received no complaints about the agreement.

The statement explained “it is a part of AFC Asian Cup regulations that any company, except official sponsors or suppliers, cannot be associated with this event in order to protect the benefits of competition sponsors.

"This is a part of the condition-agreement to give hosting rights to stage this competition to Australia."

The venues will revert to their more familiar names after the three-week tournament.

Image shows South Korean football fans at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

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