Birmingham City Council refutes Edgbaston sponsorship claims

BIRMINGHAM City Council has categorically denied that it is to enter into a sponsorship agreement with Warwickshire County Cricket Club which would see its Edgbaston stadium re-named.

The cash-strapped council said stories that Edgbaston cricket ground could be renamed the City of Birmingham Edgbaston Stadium in a £4m deal are wide of the mark.

A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “This is a bit of kite flying. We have been in discussions with the cricket club but not about naming rights, rather general support.

“Considering our financial situation we cannot afford to be talking about sponsorship deals.”

Curiously the story the local authority has refuted – which had appeared in local newspapers – contained a large amount of detail.

It said the deal would also see Warwickshire CCC’s one-day team changed from the Warwickshire Bears to the Birmingham Bears and Bears stars such as England batsmen Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott wearing the logo of tourism organisation Visit Birmingham on their shirts while playing for Warwickshire.

The story also said the deal would see £1m-worth of match tickets given away to Birmingham schools, voluntary groups and cricket clubs and community groups to encourage children to play more sport.

And it suggested the council would be given use of the stadium car park for major events in Cannon Hill Park.