Review into commercial opportunities at stadium
By Mary Dennehy
SOUTH Dublin County Council is initiating a review into the commercial opportunities presented by Tallaght Stadium, including stadium branding and naming rights.
At this month’s council meeting, management discussed a proposal to explore the commercial opportunities presented by Tallaght Stadium.
Ireland's U21 manager Stephen Kenny at Tallaght Stadium
According to council management, Tallaght Stadium provides a number of opportunities which include: “Digital advertising within the stadium and on the exterior of the proposed northern stand.
“Digital advertising within the corporate areas.
“Stadium branding and naming rights.”
At the meeting, the council’s proposal to initiate a review into a digital communications and advertising strategy was open to discussion.
In communication issued to members at the meeting, council management also said that it hopes to ‘procure marketing, branding and naming rights advice in relation to Tallaght stadium in order to further advise the council on such a potential opportunity’.
According to Tallaght South Sinn Fein councillor Dermot Richardson: “We will have to see what happens…[this review] doesn’t give the council permission to go ahead with this.
“It is very important that Tallaght remains in the name.
“We will have to see what happens, a lot of thought would need to be put into it… with money going back into the community for sports etc.”
Social Democrats councillor Dermot Looney, expressed his objection to one aspect of the proposal.
Taking to Twitter after the meeting, Cllr Looney said: “I have spoken against a proposal by the Chief Executive to seek advice on selling naming rights to Tallaght Stadium.
“I oppose any attempt to rename or add on any commercial entity to the name of the stadium.”
When contacted by The Echo after the meeting, a council spokesperson said that “there is no proposal to remove the name Tallaght Stadium”.
The council will revert back to elected members after its review.
