M&S Bank takes over as naming partner of Liverpool Arena
M&S Bank has today announced that it will become the official naming partner of the Liverpool Arena, early in 2019.
The new partnership will see Liverpool’s number one venue for music, comedy and events, renamed the M&S Bank Arena.
The Liverpool Echo, the city’s daily newspaper, will continue its 10-year partnership with the arena as a key business partner.
Sue Fox, M&S Bank chief executive, said: “M&S Bank has been based in the North West since the business was formed in 1985, it has continued to evolve over this time to the full service bank it is today and our past, present and future are firmly rooted in the region.
“We’re very much committed to supporting our local community and over the last 10 years we’ve seen the Arena bring a phenomenal breadth of entertainment and cultural events to the city of Liverpool, it has also delivered fantastic economic benefits to the city and the wider region.
“We’re extremely delighted to be a part of something incredibly special and look forward to the launch of the M&S Bank Arena early in 2019.”
Bob Prattey, chief executive of The ACC Liverpool Group which includes the Arena, Exhibition Centre Liverpool and Convention Centre, said: “We’re incredibly excited to announce the launch of the M&S Bank Arena.
“It’s a fantastic way to conclude a phenomenal year that has seen us mark 10 years since the Arena first opened its doors.
“M&S Bank is one of the UK’s leading challenger banks, with a long-established history in the region.
“The business shares our passion for the city of Liverpool, making it the perfect naming partner for the Arena, complementing the great partnership we already have in place with the Liverpool Echo which will continue as a key business partner.”
The Arena has hosted more than 1,200 performances since it first opened its doors in 2008.
Entertainment highlights have included the European MTV Awards, the Davis Cup, Sir Paul McCartney, the MOBO Awards and BBC Sports Personality of the Year, which returned for the second time in December 2017.
The venue has welcomed 5.6 million visitors since opening and the ACC Liverpool campus, also home to the Convention Centre and Exhibition Centre Liverpool, has generated £1.6bn in economic benefit for the Liverpool city region.
