And they just keep getting bigger and bigger, whilst we..

[6TimesaRed]

.. continue to get very left behind...

Manchester United's have agreed a ground-breaking deal with American insurance company AON, worth over £15m a season, for the naming rights to their Carrington training ground.

From 1 July, Carrington will be known as the 'AON Training Complex' as part of the eight-year agreement with the club's present shirt sponsors.

The deal also includes sponsorship of United's training kit, their annual summer tours and, for the first time, friendly matches.

As had already been agreed, AON will also become the principle partner of the Manchester United Business Network and also sponsor of the Manchester United Foundation.

The deal highlights the commercial value of United, who have also signed a £357m, seven-year deal with US car company General Motors to have its Chevrolet name on their shirts from 2014, when the AON agreement expires.

An AON source said the company were delighted with the training ground deal.

"We are very aware and respectful of the fact some people will continue to call the training complex Carrington but in time, we hope they come to understand what the AON brand stands for," said the source.

"But we feel this agreement will enable us to do something with the club which is unique. We have been more than delighted by our partnership with Manchester United."

The deal has prompted suggestions that United could also sell naming rights to their Old Trafford ground, but this has been quickly dismissed by the club.

"Old Trafford will not be sold," said Ed Woodward, United's executive vice-chairman, who will replace David Gill as chief executive in the summer.

 

[refugee]

Fucking hell. Who the fuck cares what another teams training ground is called? £15m a year and this is pretty much the only publicity AON will get from the deal....

 

[6TimesaRed]

Fucking hell. Who the fuck cares what another teams training ground is called? £15m a year and this is pretty much the only publicity AON will get from the deal....

We have a should look at doing the same for our Acdemy and training ground.. 15 million a year dont sound much by todays standards, but can be the differance between when it comes to signings..

We really need to pull our fingers out both on and off the field or we are very much in danger of becoming A N other club..

 

[refugee]

We have a should look at doing the same for our Acdemy and training ground.. 15 million a year dont sound much by todays standards, but can be the differance between when it comes to signings..

We really need to pull our fingers out both on and off the field or we are very much in danger of becoming A N other club..

I have no objection to us doing it. I just don't see how AON will benefit from it.

Can you imagine a Villa fan thinking to himself

I'm going to watch Villa v Liverpool on Saturday.
Don't Liverpool train at the Ronseal academy?
That reminds me, I must weather proof my garden shed for the winter

 

[Judge Jules]

We've spiffed up our commercial operations a fair bit since the doldrums of the Moores and Parry era. Unfortunately our improvement off the field hasn't been matched on it, whereas the Mancs have kept the two in pace with one another. We can get there too, but it'll take a while yet.

 

[Modo]

Well I guess we just have to pull a "Dortmund" or "Valencia 2000-2004" on them.

 

[RolandG]

That 7 year shirt deal would pay for a new stadium. Damn..........

 

[Dreambeliever]

Very smart business but we seem to have upped our game in that department since the new Yanks came in.

 

[RedStar]

This is the reason why the financial fair play rules are a ridiculous idea that rigs the game in favour of clubs like Utd and Madrid, so Utd can sell the rights to their ground for $15m a year their jersey sponsorship for $25m etc and spend as much as the they like on wages/transfers, any other club that wants to compete with that has their hands tied behind their back unless the somehow find an unlimited revenue stream out of nowhere