M&S Bank is replacing the Liverpool Echo as the arena’s main sponsor after 10 years and BT’s sponsorship of the Convention Centre is also coming to an end. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool’s waterfront ECHO Arena will be renamed the ‘M&S Bank Arena’ early in 2019 after owner ACC Liverpool signed a new sponsorship deal.
Part of the ACC Liverpool complex, the arena has been sponsored by the Liverpool Echo since it opened in 2008 and has since hosted more than 1,200 concerts and events, seen by 5.6m people. The Echo will continue to be a business partner.
Communications giant BT’s sponsorship of the convention centre next door will also come to an end at the end of this year.
Local community
Sue Fox, chief executive of M&S Bank, said: “M&S Bank has been based in the North West since the business was formed in 1985, it has continued to evolve over this time to the full service bank it is today and our past, present and future are firmly rooted in the region.
“We’re very much committed to supporting our local community and, during the last 10 years, we’ve seen the arena bring a phenomenal breadth of entertainment and cultural events to the city of Liverpool.
“It has also delivered fantastic economic benefits to the city and the wider region. We’re extremely delighted to be a part of something incredibly special and look forward to the launch of the M&S Bank Arena early in 2019.”
Major events
Highlights of the last 10 years have included the European MTV Awards, the Davis Cup, Sir Paul McCartney, the MOBO Awards and BBC Sports Personality of the Year, which returned for the second time in December 2017.
Carl Wood, regional managing director of the Liverpool Echo and Reach PLC North West and North Wales, said: “The Echo has had an amazing 10-year association with ACC Liverpool and we feel very proud to have played a key role and supported what has become such a success for our city, our region and for the arena, convention and exhibition industry.
“We are also very pleased to announce that we will remain a key business partner of ACC Liverpool and will continue to be part of this incredible success story.”
Bob Prattey, chief of The ACC Liverpool Group, which includes the arena, Exhibition Centre Liverpool and Convention Centre, said: “We’re incredibly excited to announce the launch of the M&S Bank Arena. It’s a fantastic way to conclude a phenomenal year that has seen us mark 10 years since the arena first opened its doors.”