Eden Park takes on fish and chip business naming rights for Bledisloe Cup

A Kaikōura-based fish and chip business has been awarded naming rights to Auckland’s Eden Park for this weekend’s Bledisloe Cup rugby union match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies.

The gift to Coopers Catch was made by ASB Bank, which last week acquired the temporary rights with the intention of passing them on to a New Zealand business in need of a boost amid COVID-19.

Coopers Catch owners and avid rugby fans, Jason and Natasja Hill, were stunned this week when Tim Deane ASB’s Executive General Manager of Business Banking dropped by unexpectedly to give them the news.

Following the announcement, Jason Hill advised “it’s beyond any dream my wife Natasja and I had for our business.

“We’re so grateful to ASB for backing us in what’s been a really tough time, particularly for a town like Kaikoura that has been so dependent on tourism. I’m a rugby nut and it’s an absolute honour to become part of New Zealand rugby history as the first business to borrow naming rights to Eden Park.”

ASB’s Deane says Eden Park will always be Eden Park, but ASB is thrilled to help the Coopers Catch team to temporarily borrow Eden Park in this way.

Deane stated “I’d encourage anyone passing though Kaikoura to make a point of visiting Jason and the team. As a hospitality business in a town that’s usually thriving on international visitation, this family run business has demonstrated impressive effort to get through the tough situation they’ve been facing, while keeping their cherished team together.

“I’m thrilled to see them get such a helping-hand and can’t wait to see the Coopers Catch logo take centre stage at one of the world’s most revered stadiums for this weekend great trans-Tasman rugby clash.”

New Zealand will host Australia at Eden Park on Sunday and fans will be able to attend the match after Auckland recently moved to Alert Level 1 of its COVID-19 response system.

ASB is an existing sponsor of Eden Park and holds naming rights to the venue’s northern stand.

Images: Eden Park Chief Executive Nick Sautner and ASB Executive General Manager of Business Banking Tim Deane reveal the Coopers Catch Park branding (top), Sautner and Deane with Natasja and Jason Hill of Coopers Catch (middle) and the new branding in situ (below).