Austria: Merkur (insurance company) gets the naming rights to the stadium of SK Sturm Graz

The insurance company Merkur, whose headquarters is in Graz (Austria), has acquired the naming rights of the stadium (15,400 seats) in which SK Sturm Graz (Tipico Bundesliga) plays, announced the company on 23/10/2015.

The compound, currently named UPC Arena (telecommunications, naming rights contract since 2006), will change its name, from March 2016, for a period of 10 years. The future name of the former Arnold Schwarzenegger-Stadion (1997-2005) has not yet been announced. The contract also includes the naming rights of Liebenau ice rink located near the stadium. Six out of 10 stadiums have naming rights contracts in the 2015-16 Tipico Bundesliga.

This partnership will help fund the renovation plan of the enclosure (new pitch, drssing rooms, hospitality areas, offices ...). Work will begin in August 2016, with scheduled delivery in 2017. The total cost of the renovation is estimated at €20m, of which €5m will be provided by the municipality. "It was 15 years ago when we were always accused of being a city known only for culture and not investing enough in sport. We took these…