Leeds Rhinos have confirmed a massive new sponsorship deal for their Headingley ground with the stadium now set to be named the AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium for the enxt 15 years.
Gary Hetherington headed up a press conference today alongside commercial director Rob Oates and AMT founder Neil McGawley.
Hetherington stated: “Welcome here to Headingley and welcome here into the Headingley Taverner’s Suite as well, which is quite a significant facility.
“It’s been here since 1890 in actual fact, as originally is the cricket changing room. So it’s had so many legendary players in here.
“This has been the venues for some very significant announcements over the years. I will remember the most expensive signing that the Rhinos ever made was Iestyn Harris. That was announced here in the Taverner’s Club.
“Not long afterwards, the whole rebranding of what was Leeds Rugby League into Leeds Rhinos was held here in the Taverner’s Club. So today’s announcement which is indeed a momentous one for both Leeds Rhinos and for Headingley, it’s appropriate that we should be here in the Taverners Club to make this announcement.
“It is a very significant one and to give you a bit more detail I would like to pass on to my colleague, the Rhinos Commercial Director, Rob Oates.”
“This is a great, great day for the club. A bit of background to this, I’ve known Neil McGawley for a number of years. We’ve worked closely over the last 12 months on this significant deal,” Oates explained.
“AMT are a family business. They’re a lovely, lovely group of people. They’re brilliant to deal with, Neil himself is a lifelong Leeds Rhinos fan and a top, top bloke and that has resulted in a 15 year partnership agreement here at the stadium and the stadium will be known as the AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium.
“It’s the biggest commercial deal that the club has ever done and it is absolutely brilliant news. They’re lovely, lovely people. Neil’s a top bloke and then today is the start of a fabulous partnership.
“We’re pinching ourselves, I’m a lifelong fan, Neil’s a lifelong fan, we’re pinching ourselves that we’re sat in a press conference today doing this. It’s a big day for us, it’s a great day for you as well.”
Neil McGawley then had his say on the honour of the deal.
“As a massive fan of this sport, and particularly the Rhinos, I’m really proud and excited to be able to invest in this partnership and with a global love as Rob says I’ve been a lifelong fan. Yeah, I’ve been a lifelong fan.
“In conjunction with our other sporting partnerships in the city, Leeds United, Yorkshire Cricket, it means that AMT can connect to most of the people and businesses in Leeds, which syncs perfectly with AMT’s vision to be a vehicle solution for everyone, particularly for people in Leeds and Yorkshire.
“So personally this is perfect for me. I get to invest and be involved with a club that I love.”
