It's Etihad Stadium, but not for the AFL
Melbourne's Docklands Stadium, now renamed Etihad Stadium, is not being named that way by the AFL.
The AFL is set to sue Etihad Stadium management because the name conflicts with AFL sponsor Qantas. There is also an ongoing dispute between the AFL and stadium management over pourage rights and and club stadium deals.
The five-year deal with Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad, worth an estimated $25 million, commenced on Sunday 1st March 2009 with the Carlton-Hawthorn NAB Cup game the first at the renamed venue.
AFL Chief Operating Officer Gillon McLachlan confirmed recently that the league would not recognise the new name, stating "from our perspective, we will call it Docklands Stadium until this issue is resolved."
Docklands originally opened as Colonial Stadium in 2000 before becoming Telstra Dome in late 2002.
The ABC has a longstanding policy of referring to venues by their original names, ignoring sponsors names.
17th October 2008 - TELSTRA DOME TO BECOME ETIHAD STADIUM
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