Big reveal of stadium’s new name on horizon
AN announcement about the new naming rights sponsor of the Carrara AFL stadium is imminent with the Metricon branding being stripped from the complex.
The stadium’s giant name sign has been removed in recent days ahead of the new name being unveiled in time for next month’s AFL season opener.
While some signage around the Gold Coast Suns’ Nerang Broadbeach Road sports precinct remains, it is expected to be gone within days, just four months after Metricon Homes announced it would not renew its multimilliondollar deal with the club, bringing the curtain down on a relationship which began in 2011.
Suns chairman Tony Cochrane, who last week announced his upcoming departure from his post after seven years, said a new sponsor had been selected but declined to reveal its name, saying he did not want to pre-empt the announcement.
“We announced in November last year that the arrangement (with Metricon) had come to an end so we are now getting the stadium ready for the new branding,” he said on Sunday.
“The new name and branding will be going up before the season begins next month. An announcement is coming up.”
While the Metricon signage is gone, the name is still clear on the faded paintwork. It is just the second time the stadium in its current form has not borne the name, after it was briefly covered up during the 2018 Commonwealth Games for sponsorship reasons.
The Melbourne-based Metricon became the stadium’s sponsor in 2011 and has injected more than $11m in to the club.
The decision was made after the building company endured a tough 2022, including the death of founder and CEO Mario Biasin in May and a downturn forcing it to axe nearly 10 per cent of its staff.
A statement from Metricon in October 2022 revealed why they decided not to renew their contract with the Suns.
“We are very proud to have partnered with the Suns for more than 12 years, however it’s now time for Metricon to look at new opportunities which best suit the profile and future of the business,” the statement said.
“Although we are opting to not renew the naming rights for the stadium, we do hope to continue our connection and are exploring other commercial ways the relationship can continue.”