Kia Motors extends Eden Park partnership

Global automotive brand Kia Motors has announced a three-year extension of its relationship with Auckland’s Eden Park.

Having first partnered with New Zealand’s largest stadium in 2016, the South Korean manufacturer will remain one of its ‘icon partners’ with benefits including key signage locations, hospitality and access to the pitch for product launches along with other mutual objectives in which the two brands will continue to collaborate on.

Welcoming the partnership extension, Eden Park Chief Executive, Nick Sautner says the venue’s status continues to attract the world’s leading brands to its family of Icon Partners.

Sautner advised “New Zealand’s national stadium has a history of aligning with prestigious and trusted brands to enhance the stadium for our local and wider community. We’re delighted that Kia Motors is extending its relationship with Eden Park and will continue to be the stadium’s official automotive partner.”

With Kia last month reaching number three overall in the local new vehicle market, Kia Motors New Zealand Managing Director, Todd McDonald added “Kia Motors NZ is thrilled to be extending our association with Eden Park, the historical home of premier sport in New Zealand. It’s the perfect way to showcase awareness of the Kia range of vehicles during some of the most exhilarating moments in high-level sport.”

Kia Motors Worldwide has a reputation of supporting a wide range of international stadia and sporting events such as the Australian Open tennis tournament, the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the United States, football governing body FIFA as well as holding naming rights to the Kia Oval in London.

In addition to a relationship with Eden Park, the brand has locally sponsored the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation for the past ten years, highlighting its commitment to the country’s sporting community.

Eden Park has also extended its hosting arrangements with A-League club Wellington Phoenix. Coming on the back of an average attendance of over 15,000 for the past three games at the venue, the country’s only professional football club has agreed to stage two games per year at Eden Park until the end of the 2021/22 season.

Wellington Phoenix General Manager, David Dome commented “it’s important for us as a club to have a presence in Auckland and an average of over 15,000 there is a wonderful result for the club.

“The atmosphere generated by the fans (at Eden Park) has been something very special for the players and the club. Locking in two games a season for the next two seasons is repaying the commitment of Auckland fans to support the Phoenix and professional football in New Zealand.”

Images: Cricket at Eden Park (top, courtesy of Kia Motors) and Wellington Phoenix at the venue (below, courtesy of Wellington Phoenix).