Chance to have EL stadium named after you for R6m a year
Do you have R6m a year to spare? If your answer is yes, then you can have one of East London’s sports stadiums named after you or your company.
The new owners of BCM stadium (previously known as Absa stadium) are looking for a partner who will assume its naming rights.
Chippa Holdings owner Siviwe “Chippa” Mpengesi, who recently signed a 20year lease agreement with the city to use and manage both the BCM and Jan Smuts stadiums, this week confirmed he was looking for a partner after whom the BCM stadium would be named, provided the partner can fork out at least R6m a year towards the deal.
The multi-use stadium holds up to 16,000 people.
Built in 1934, it has undergone three name changes over the years: Border Rugby Union grounds, Basil Kenyon stadium in 1951, after a Springbok player and, most recently, Absa stadium.
The bank did not renew its naming rights in 2010, nine years after acquiring them.
“We are looking for any commercial company or any business interested in acquiring the naming rights of the stadium,” Mpengesi said.
“Because we want to attract international sport to the stadium, Chippa United will start by playing some of their PSL games at the stadium.
“Next, we want to bring big rugby tournaments.”
Mpengesi said they were looking at renaming the Jan Smuts field after a more modern sporting icon, politician or activist.
“We will consult the local political leadership to see if there is a hero or legend they wish to honour.
“We believe the time of naming the stadium Jan Smuts is done.
“It is now time for it to be renamed,” he said.
Mpengesi confirmed he had met the Border-kei Chamber of Business on Tuesday and ironed out their differences.
The chamber in December raised concerns about leasing the athletics stadium to Mpengesi and urged the municipality to review its decision, which it said was crippling sports activities in the metro.
“I had a meeting with the Border-kei Chamber of Business and they promised to assist me in finding a company to pay for naming rights.
“The chamber will form part of our board and we will work with them, Border Rugby and Athletics SA,” he said.
The chamber’s Lizelle Maurice said they would help Mpengesi look for potential partners.
“We met Mpengesi earlier this week and he asked us to assist him.
“We are electing a board to put a proper governance structure in place in order to get funders,” Maurice said.
“We are going to do a walk-through of the stadium, have a look and come up with suggestions and then propose people for the board so that they can work together for the greater good of athletics and rugby in our area.
“We have to make sure we are compliant with Athletics SA and SA Rugby what their standards are and then get the stadium back to those standards,” she said.