Stadium Australia at The Sydney Olympic Park is to be renamed Accor Stadium after the hotel operator won a bid to acquire its naming rights.
With a capacity to hold concerts for 100,000 spectators and over 80,000 people for seated sporting events, the newly named Accor Stadium will host the Australian national women’s football team the Matildas against USA on 27 November.
Minister for Sport, Natalie Ward, said that the NSW Government was ‘delighted’ with the partnership, adding: “NSW is open for business and we are thrilled our local fans, along with interstate and international visitors, will be able to experience fantastic sporting and entertainment venues like Accor Stadium.
“Accor Stadium will have an important role to play in NSW in 2022 and beyond and I can’t wait to see the seats filled again by those enjoying the experience of a large-scale live event.”
In a bid to improve spectatorship and boost fan engagement, the stadium is to soon incorporate LED video screens, along with further promised enhancements.
Simon McGrath, CEO of Accor Pacific, labeled the partnership as ‘natural’, and that it expands on Accor’s promise to give customers and loyalty member’s ‘memorable experiences’, adding: “Accor is dedicated to creating incredible customer experiences, and Accor Stadium firmly aligns with this vision.
“We are immensely proud of this partnership, which is an investment in limitless experiences that bring people together, from world-class concerts, to sporting and family events,” said Mr McGrath. This commitment also expresses our support for tourism, hospitality, events and travel, which play a vital role in our culture.”
Stadium Australia CEO, Daryl Kerry, added that the venue had already welcomed more than 30 million fans since it opened in the lead-up to the 2000 Olympic & Paralympic Games and it was now set for an exciting new era as Accor Stadium.
“We are delighted to partner with Accor as we welcome people back to watch world-class sport and entertainment events,” he explained. “Accor Stadium will also play an important role in our community hosting a range of business, community and cultural events in the various function rooms and spaces inside the stadium.”
The agreement intends to build upon Accor’s support for sport, tourism and culture in the Pacific, and currently has partnerships with the AFLW, AFL, NRL, NSWRL and Netball Australia.
