Clubs ask what’s in a name...

LATICS have joined a growing band of clubs who have stadiums named after sponsors.
SportsDirect.com Park will be one of eight renamed grounds in Sky Bet League One for the 2014-15 season.

It is the second time the sportswear retail company have put their name to a stadium, after Newcastle’s St James’ Park was temporarily renamed as the Sports Direct Arena three years ago.

Most new venues in the professional game come with sponsors attached.

The prevalence of stadiums bearing brand names increases the further down the Football League you travel. Athletic are the 30th club to have a ground name featuring a sponsor, and only the second with a ‘.com’ suffix in its ground name.

Most correspondents to the Chronicle over the past 24 hours insist they will still be watching games at Boundary Park - but many admit they aren’t too worried by the name change if it secures a better future for the club



Sponsored stadiums (traditional names in brackets)



Premier League



Arsenal, Emirates Stadium

Hull City, Kingston Communications Stadium

Leicester City, King Power Stadium

Manchester City, Etihad Stadium (Eastlands)

Stoke City, Britannia Stadium




CHAMPIONSHIP



Bolton Wanderers, Macron Stadium

Bournemouth, Goldsands Stadium (Dean Court)

Brighton & Hove Albion, American Express Community Stadium

Derby County, iPro Stadium (Pride Park)

Huddersfield Town, John Smith’s Stadium

Wigan Athletic, DW Stadium




LEAGUE ONE



Bradford City, Coral Windows Stadium (Valley Parade)

Chesterfield, Proact Stadium

Colchester United, Weston Homes Community Stadium

Crawley Town, Checkatrade.com Stadium (Broadfield Stadium)

Doncaster Rovers, Keepmoat Stadium

Gillingham, MEMS Priestfield Stadium (Priestfield)

Leyton Orient, Matchroom Stadium (Brisbane Road)

Walsall, Banks’s Stadium (Bescot Stadium)




LEAGUE TWO



Accrington Stanley, First Store Stadium (Crown Ground)

AFC Wimbledon, Cherry Red Records Stadium (Kingsmeadow)

Burton Albion, Pirelli Stadium

Bury, JD Stadium (Gigg Lane)

Cambridge United, R Costings Abbey Stadium (Abbey Stadium)

Cheltenham Town, Abbey Business Stadium (Whaddon Road)

Dagenham & Redbridge, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Stadium (Victoria Road)

Mansfield Town, One Call Stadium (Field Mill)

Morecambe, Globe Arena

Shrewsbury Town, Greenhous Meadow

Stevenage, Lamex Stadium (Broadhall Way)