Macron Stadium to be renamed University of Bolton Stadium

Wanderers revealed the surprise sponsorship deal today, naming the University of Bolton as the club's new official "stadium naming rights partner".
The deal — the financial details of which is not being revealed — will see the stadium rebranded as the University of Bolton Stadium with immediate effect.
Bolton Wanderers chairman Ken Anderson said: "We are extremely proud of this strategic long-term partnership with the University of Bolton.

"Like us, they are at the heart of the community and play a vital role in flying the flag for our great town.
"We will be honoured to display their brand on our stadium which will help them reach out to a wider audience."
University bosses say the deal will open up opportunities for students as well as raising the profile of the education establishment.
They declined to reveal the financial cost of the sponsorship deal but said it provided value for money and took into account the university's educational status.
Professor George Holmes President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Bolton, added: "We are very excited by continuing our association and support of Bolton Wanderers.

"Both the football club and the University of Bolton are synonymous with our town and we felt now was the right time to extend our strategic partnership; that includes increased benefits for our sport students."
The University of Bolton name will replace that of the Italian sportswear company, with which an sponsorship deal was struck in 2014 for an initial four years after the Whites' long association with sportswear giant Reebok, which has given the stadium its name since it was opened in 1997, came to an end.
University managers stressed that the deal would benefit "all students" and was more than a marketing or branding exercise, opening up academic, professional and enrichment activities for those studying at the town centre campus.

Professor Holmes said: "The deal will enable students studying Sports Science to have an opportunity to help assess sportsmen and women in a professional environment which will greatly enhance their learning.
"They will have access to the state-of-the-art facilities and specialist expertise at the club with an opportunity to develop a real-world understanding of their subject in a professional environment; invaluable for our students as they seek employment further down the line."
He added: "Given that we are a town centre campus, this partnership with Bolton Wanderers will immediately create an excellent sporting infrastructure for our students.
"It’s an incredibly exciting move for the university."
Bolton Wanderers players are also said to benefit under the deal through using modern sport science equipment to improve fitness and training.

Already elite athletes and sports teams, including the England and Wales Rugby League use university's state-of-the-art facilities for training and rehabilitation.
The University of Bolton is the main sponsor of Manchester Giants to provide students with real-life experience in supporting athletes and volunteering opportunities.
Last year the University of Bolton became the town’s football club’s first short sponsor as it continues to team up with Wanderers.
Dr Kondal Kandadi, Pro Vice Chancellor (academic) said the deal would provide enrichment and health and wellbeing opportunities through the use of sporting facilities. And added that those studying sport sciences would have access to another educational resource which would also help develop their employability skills.

He said: "This this is an academic collaboration with the club which will benefit all students.
"If it was not an academic collaboration with the club we would not have gone for this."
Dr Kandadi added that to create a resource such as that offered at Bolton Wanderers Stadium would not only take years to build and be hindered by space as the university is based in the town centre.
In the Complete University Guide 2019 the university was number one in Greater Manchester for student satisfaction.
The number one rating, the university says, demonstrates the university's commitment to a Teaching Intensive, Research Informed culture assuring students of high teaching standards and experience that best prepares them for employment opportunities.

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There's a lot of hot air in the public announcements- but overall this seems innovative to me. I thought BSA had brought in the best sports science during his tenure, but I guess it has aged a bit over the years. I think this is a positive move but no doubt there'll be loads of people ( particularly football commentators) taking the piss about them needing to go back and study the game.
Good on ya KA!!

While I may be a good move behind the scenes, the name just sounds a joke. They should have just gone with the Middlebrook Arena sponsored by Bolton Uni or something along those lines.

I just don't get it myself?

I assume the University is in it for a higher profile to attract students but surely any potential student would look at how well the university is doing before considering studying there? I know I would.

If they looked on the Complete University Guide 2019 League Table, Bolton is rated 126th out of 131 Universities (DOWN one place from last year!).

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Would you be itching to do your degree at one of the worst ranked universities in the country just because they sponsor the towns football stadium???

Even if you specifically wanted to go to university in these parts (and your entrance grades aren't the best), there is Chester (ranked 98th), certainly a nicer place than Bolton, Salford (79th) they have a bigger football stadium there and certainly a better student nightlife in 'Madchester' than we have, Edge Hill (71) close to Liverpool for city life and Southport for the occasional trip to the seaside (ok not brilliant but a good 50 places better than the university of Bolton) - you get the idea.

I understand the club being happy to accept there money but can't quite grasp what's in it for the university?

Well it's done now.

Does seem a strange one, but hopefully the club can attract more fans via the uni. Would love to know the monetary value of the deal.

Sluffy,
I've worked in universities for many years (not Bolton U)- and you don't advertise to your domestic market as that's controlled by other factors. Almost all university advertising is aimed at the overseas market which is hugely lucrative- many universities would be in dire straits without it- and that market is much less informed. So it might just be a clever plot on Bolton U's part

rammywhite wrote:Sluffy,
I've worked in universities for many years (not Bolton U)- and you don't advertise to your domestic market as that's controlled by other factors. Almost all university advertising is aimed at the overseas market which is hugely lucrative- many universities would be in dire straits without it- and that market is much less informed. So it might just be a clever plot on Bolton U's part

Well I did pick up on the line about Nigerian students and Okocha playing here but how high profile is Championship football in the world TV/streaming markets? It's not as though we have any Chinese, Indian or Nigerian players in our team to attract partisan followers.

I'm sure you are right and that it is aimed at the international students but surely even those would do a bit of research before they travelled halfway round the world to get here - unless of course it isn't really a degree they are truly after perhaps?

As long as it’s referred to as the UBOL. Stadium I don’t mind it

I have reservations about this myself. 

I'm not sure if I was a student, or a parent of a student of Bolton University, I'd welcome this. 

The heads excessive salary, being one thing, but it's land grabbing (Bolton town centre, it owns Moor lane plot apparently) and now it's time up with BWFC.

Students are paying excessively for course's, and getting into debt and here are the University throwing money around like confetti.

The students who work on sports science will get a huge benefit, and I've no problem with the tie up itself. In fact I thought it was still there from Allardyces time. 

However, somebody whose learning English from the University might be a bit annoyed and will wonder what they're getting out of it. 

Students might think lower University fees would have been preferable than this.

Hopefully Wanderers use the facilities in full.

rammywhite wrote:Sluffy,
I've worked in universities for many years (not Bolton U)- and you don't advertise to your domestic market as that's controlled by other factors. Almost all university advertising is aimed at the overseas market which is hugely lucrative- many universities would be in dire straits without it- and that market is much less informed. So it might just be a clever plot on Bolton U's part

Except that Bolton (as a district) voted out of the EU thereby alienating many potential overseas students who now think the UK is a hot bed of xenophobic idiots, and the fact that the Government are now starting to clamp down on overseas students from outside the EU as well. Mind you, that League table of Universities just goes to show no one would be interested to come to Bolton anyway if they have any sense ! That aside, the name is embarrasing. If the best we could get is Bolton Polytechnic University as sponsors it's a pretty sad time for us. I cannot believe that they could afford to stump up a significant amount of money. Maybe we should have had a whip round on here and got it named the Bolton Nuts Arena or similar

Dunkels King wrote:

rammywhite wrote:Sluffy,
I've worked in universities for many years (not Bolton U)- and you don't advertise to your domestic market as that's controlled by other factors. Almost all university advertising is aimed at the overseas market which is hugely lucrative- many universities would be in dire straits without it- and that market is much less informed. So it might just be a clever plot on Bolton U's part

Except that Bolton (as a district) voted out of the EU thereby alienating many potential overseas students who now think the UK is a hot bed of xenophobic idiots, and the fact that the Government are now starting to clamp down on overseas students from outside the EU as well. Mind you, that League table of Universities just goes to show no one would be interested to come to Bolton anyway if they have any sense ! That aside, the name is embarrasing. If the best we could get is Bolton Polytechnic University as sponsors it's a pretty sad time for us. I cannot believe that they could afford to stump up a significant amount of money. Maybe we should have had a whip round on here and got it named the Bolton Nuts Arena or similar

Considering the University owns quite a bit of land in the town centre, including moor lane and right up to the town hall, then I think they have more money than you might think. The Universitys plan to build a number of building around moor lane is food for thought.

I'm  happy with the sponsor, the University is doing as much to regenerate  the Town Centre as anyone else with the new student accomodation and academic buildings being built.Morrisons and Sainsburys in town  stay open till 10 and 11 respectively every day but Sunday, I suspect the influx of students is the reason.
There is an ad on the building on Great Moor St that says "1st for student satisfaction in Greater Manchester" so they are doing something right with the students.
Sponsoring the football ground is a great way for them to get publicity and its good that they want to support the club
It's not as good for the football club i don;t think because i don't think the money involved will be substantial.

Nigelbwfc wrote:

Dunkels King wrote:

rammywhite wrote:Sluffy,
I've worked in universities for many years (not Bolton U)- and you don't advertise to your domestic market as that's controlled by other factors. Almost all university advertising is aimed at the overseas market which is hugely lucrative- many universities would be in dire straits without it- and that market is much less informed. So it might just be a clever plot on Bolton U's part

Except that Bolton (as a district) voted out of the EU thereby alienating many potential overseas students who now think the UK is a hot bed of xenophobic idiots, and the fact that the Government are now starting to clamp down on overseas students from outside the EU as well. Mind you, that League table of Universities just goes to show no one would be interested to come to Bolton anyway if they have any sense ! That aside, the name is embarrasing. If the best we could get is Bolton Polytechnic University as sponsors it's a pretty sad time for us. I cannot believe that they could afford to stump up a significant amount of money. Maybe we should have had a whip round on here and got it named the Bolton Nuts Arena or similar

Considering the University owns quite a bit of land in the town centre, including moor lane and right up to the town hall, then I think they have more money than you might think. The Universitys plan to build a number of building around moor lane is food for thought.

That's fair enough, and I have been away from Bolton for many years, but the impression I get is that businesses cannot get out of Bolton fast enough. I heard that Shop wise it is all Betting and Pound stores now ? Correct me if I am wrong. On another thread people say they avoid the Centre of Bolton now, not just because there are hardly any decent Shops, but because you stand a fair chance of getting involved in anyone elses fights in the evening. My question would be how do the University own all this land ? Was it gifted to them by the Council ?

Growler wrote:I'm  happy with the sponsor, the University is doing as much to regenerate  the Town Centre as anyone else with the new student accomodation and academic buildings being built.Morrisons and Sainsburys in town  stay open till 10 and 11 respectively every day but Sunday, I suspect the influx of students is the reason.
There is an ad on the building on Great Moor St that says "1st for student satisfaction in Greater Manchester" so they are doing something right with the students.
Sponsoring the football ground is a great way for them to get publicity and its good that they want to support the club
It's not as good for the football club i don;t think because i don't think the money involved will be substantial.

I think sponsoring a Stand would have been more useful. I can't be bothered to look it up as I am supposed to be working, but are any other Grounds named after a University ? What is Blackburns ground ? Is it Venkys Stadium or still Ewood ? That's our problem. A lot of Grounds are still referred to by their original name. Unfortunately our Ground was known as the Reebok which is a sponsor. We should have had another name as well, like "Middlebrook Arena" which was already mentioned, and I know we need money, but plenty of Clubs don't even bother with naming rights in the first place. I would imagine that the price they paid will have to be shown in the accounts next year. I bet it's no more than 1 Million.

Growler wrote:
There is an ad on the building on Great Moor St that says "1st for student satisfaction in Greater Manchester" so they are doing something right with the students.

Apparently there is an identical sign in the window of a massage parlour in Levenshulme.

Leeds_Trotter wrote:While I may be a good move behind the scenes, the name just sounds a joke. They should have just gone with the Middlebrook Arena sponsored by Bolton Uni or something along those lines.

Good Idea.

I still call it the Reebok.

Its an awful name but could be worse, could have been the Pataks or Carrs Pasties Stadium. Can't imagine we are getting much money out of this, should have approached Betfred.

The Nat Lofthouse Stadium would have been nice.

Dunkels King wrote:

Nigelbwfc wrote:

Dunkels King wrote:

rammywhite wrote:Sluffy,
I've worked in universities for many years (not Bolton U)- and you don't advertise to your domestic market as that's controlled by other factors. Almost all university advertising is aimed at the overseas market which is hugely lucrative- many universities would be in dire straits without it- and that market is much less informed. So it might just be a clever plot on Bolton U's part

Except that Bolton (as a district) voted out of the EU thereby alienating many potential overseas students who now think the UK is a hot bed of xenophobic idiots, and the fact that the Government are now starting to clamp down on overseas students from outside the EU as well. Mind you, that League table of Universities just goes to show no one would be interested to come to Bolton anyway if they have any sense ! That aside, the name is embarrasing. If the best we could get is Bolton Polytechnic University as sponsors it's a pretty sad time for us. I cannot believe that they could afford to stump up a significant amount of money. Maybe we should have had a whip round on here and got it named the Bolton Nuts Arena or similar

Considering the University owns quite a bit of land in the town centre, including moor lane and right up to the town hall, then I think they have more money than you might think. The Universitys plan to build a number of building around moor lane is food for thought.

That's fair enough, and I have been away from Bolton for many years, but the impression I get is that businesses cannot get out of Bolton fast enough. I heard that Shop wise it is all Betting and Pound stores now ? Correct me if I am wrong. On another thread people say they avoid the Centre of Bolton now, not just because there are hardly any decent Shops, but because you stand a fair chance of getting involved in anyone elses fights in the evening. My question would be how do the University own all this land ? Was it gifted to them by the Council ?

Can't get to the bottom of why the local University is so rich and land grabbing. It's probably all the student fees they're getting. The University has bought the land, seemingly without it being rendered, but just because it's not in the newspapers doesn't mean anything underhand has happened, eg moor lane being owned by the University without any of us knowing it had been up for sale. 

However, student flats and a senate building are planned there