Who pays for sign changes when stadiums/arenas change their name?

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Scratchwood
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Who pays for sign changes when stadiums/arenas change their name?

Post by Scratchwood »

Driving down the M1 yesterday, I noticed that the sign before J4, advising people to turn off and follow the A41 southwards to access the RAF Museum and the Saracens rugby ground had been updated, as the ground has a new sponsor (it's now the StoneX Stadium instead of Allianz Park).

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.6415849 ... 384!8i8192

How does this happen? Do the stadium owners have to request and pay for the change? I imagine it's happened a few times with sponsored stadiums (e.g. at Leicester City or Huddersfield Town changing name).
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Re: Who pays for sign changes when stadiums/arenas change their name?

Post by yen_powell »

Those brown tourist type signs are usually paid for by the attraction owner. They have to have a minimum number of visitors before they can even apply for one.
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Re: Who pays for sign changes when stadiums/arenas change their name?

Post by Scratchwood »

Thanks, I assume the organisation pays for any subsequent updates of the brown sign, though the documentation doesn't specifically mention this
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Re: Who pays for sign changes when stadiums/arenas change their name?

Post by Conekicker »

Unless things have changed, the operator also has to pay, up front, the cost of maintaining the sign for it's expected life. Very much not cheap, especially if the venue has multiple signs.
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Re: Who pays for sign changes when stadiums/arenas change their name?

Post by Fenlander »

I wouldn't be very happy if I'd had to pay a lot to be featured on this sign especially as the housing estate one tagged on top is easily seen.
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Re: Who pays for sign changes when stadiums/arenas change their name?

Post by Fenlander »

As a side note, what's the legailty of the advertising signs that have sprouted up on pretty much all the local roundabouts? For example here, Originally they were installed with the name of an advertising company on them with a sort of "your advert here" plate so I'm guessing money has changed hands somewhere to get them installed.
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Re: Who pays for sign changes when stadiums/arenas change their name?

Post by Rambo »

Fenlander wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 13:06 As a side note, what's the legailty of the advertising signs that have sprouted up on pretty much all the local roundabouts? For example here, Originally they were installed with the name of an advertising company on them with a sort of "your advert here" plate so I'm guessing money has changed hands somewhere to get them installed.
Seems to be the norm now. Most roundabouts in my area are littered with them.
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Re: Who pays for sign changes when stadiums/arenas change their name?

Post by Vierwielen »

Rambo wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 14:31
Fenlander wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 13:06 As a side note, what's the legailty of the advertising signs that have sprouted up on pretty much all the local roundabouts? For example here, Originally they were installed with the name of an advertising company on them with a sort of "your advert here" plate so I'm guessing money has changed hands somewhere to get them installed.
Seems to be the norm now. Most roundabouts in my area are littered with them.
Including some that have the message "Advertise your business here". I suppose that the local councils need to top up their rates somehow.
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Re: Who pays for sign changes when stadiums/arenas change their name?

Post by Bryn666 »

Conekicker wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 12:42 Unless things have changed, the operator also has to pay, up front, the cost of maintaining the sign for it's expected life. Very much not cheap, especially if the venue has multiple signs.
Case in point would be the Macron Stadium changing from Reebok. Nice and easy, same number of letters.

Then they changed it to University of Bolton Stadium, and funnily enough all the trunk road signs still say Macron....
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Re: Who pays for sign changes when stadiums/arenas change their name?

Post by Conekicker »

Bryn666 wrote: Wed Sep 29, 2021 20:01
Conekicker wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 12:42 Unless things have changed, the operator also has to pay, up front, the cost of maintaining the sign for it's expected life. Very much not cheap, especially if the venue has multiple signs.
Case in point would be the Macron Stadium changing from Reebok. Nice and easy, same number of letters.

Then they changed it to University of Bolton Stadium, and funnily enough all the trunk road signs still say Macron....
Trunk road brown signs, (note the plural), you say? Hefty five figure sum as an absolute minimum. Easily a six figure sum without breaking sweat. Seven figures not unknown.

No one thought to suggest "U of B"? :twisted:
Last edited by Conekicker on Wed Sep 29, 2021 20:11, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Who pays for sign changes when stadiums/arenas change their name?

Post by Bryn666 »

Conekicker wrote: Wed Sep 29, 2021 20:10
Bryn666 wrote: Wed Sep 29, 2021 20:01
Conekicker wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 12:42 Unless things have changed, the operator also has to pay, up front, the cost of maintaining the sign for it's expected life. Very much not cheap, especially if the venue has multiple signs.
Case in point would be the Macron Stadium changing from Reebok. Nice and easy, same number of letters.

Then they changed it to University of Bolton Stadium, and funnily enough all the trunk road signs still say Macron....
Trunk road brown signs, (note the plural), you say? Hefty five figure sum as an absolute minimum. Easily a six figure sum without breaking sweat. Seven figures not unknown.
Yep, so they've left them in situ. This is why stadium signs should say the name of the team and not sponsors...
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Re: Who pays for sign changes when stadiums/arenas change their name?

Post by Vierwielen »

Bryn666 wrote: Wed Sep 29, 2021 20:11
Conekicker wrote: Wed Sep 29, 2021 20:10
Bryn666 wrote: Wed Sep 29, 2021 20:01

Case in point would be the Macron Stadium changing from Reebok. Nice and easy, same number of letters.

Then they changed it to University of Bolton Stadium, and funnily enough all the trunk road signs still say Macron....
Trunk road brown signs, (note the plural), you say? Hefty five figure sum as an absolute minimum. Easily a six figure sum without breaking sweat. Seven figures not unknown.
Yep, so they've left them in situ. This is why stadium signs should say the name of the team and not sponsors...
The cost of changing the signs is small in comparison to company's advertising budget. Sometimes changing of signs can backfire. Here is a picture of the Queen's Hotel Holiday Inn, Aldershot, taken from the Queens Roundabout. If the Holiday Inn were to sell this particular hotel, its name will no doubt change again and I doubt that relevant road authority would change the name if the roundabout to reflect the sale. To us locals, it is still The Queens Hotel.
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Re: Who pays for sign changes when stadiums/arenas change their name?

Post by Scratchwood »

Vierwielen wrote: Sat Oct 02, 2021 16:46
Bryn666 wrote: Wed Sep 29, 2021 20:11
Conekicker wrote: Wed Sep 29, 2021 20:10 Trunk road brown signs, (note the plural), you say? Hefty five figure sum as an absolute minimum. Easily a six figure sum without breaking sweat. Seven figures not unknown.
Yep, so they've left them in situ. This is why stadium signs should say the name of the team and not sponsors...
The cost of changing the signs is small in comparison to company's advertising budget. Sometimes changing of signs can backfire. Here is a picture of the Queen's Hotel Holiday Inn, Aldershot, taken from the Queens Roundabout. If the Holiday Inn were to sell this particular hotel, its name will no doubt change again and I doubt that relevant road authority would change the name if the roundabout to reflect the sale. To us locals, it is still The Queens Hotel.
The Black Prince hotel on the A2, at the Black Prince Junction, is now officially the soulless Holiday Inn London - Bexley

https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/g ... oteldetail

It's address is Black Prince Interchange
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Re: Who pays for sign changes when stadiums/arenas change their name?

Post by Ruperts Trooper »

Bryn666 wrote: Wed Sep 29, 2021 20:11
Conekicker wrote: Wed Sep 29, 2021 20:10
Bryn666 wrote: Wed Sep 29, 2021 20:01

Case in point would be the Macron Stadium changing from Reebok. Nice and easy, same number of letters.

Then they changed it to University of Bolton Stadium, and funnily enough all the trunk road signs still say Macron....
Trunk road brown signs, (note the plural), you say? Hefty five figure sum as an absolute minimum. Easily a six figure sum without breaking sweat. Seven figures not unknown.
Yep, so they've left them in situ. This is why stadium signs should say the name of the team and not sponsors...
Especially as away supporters may not know the latest name for the ground but will know the team they're playing.
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Re: Who pays for sign changes when stadiums/arenas change their name?

Post by Big L »

Ruperts Trooper wrote: Sun Nov 28, 2021 14:59
Bryn666 wrote: Wed Sep 29, 2021 20:11
Conekicker wrote: Wed Sep 29, 2021 20:10 Trunk road brown signs, (note the plural), you say? Hefty five figure sum as an absolute minimum. Easily a six figure sum without breaking sweat. Seven figures not unknown.
Yep, so they've left them in situ. This is why stadium signs should say the name of the team and not sponsors...
Especially as away supporters may not know the latest name for the ground but will know the team they're playing.
What do you do with shared stadia?

Brentford/London Irish stadium?
Wasps/Coventry City?
Make poetry history.

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Re: Who pays for sign changes when stadiums/arenas change their name?

Post by Ruperts Trooper »

Big L wrote: Sun Nov 28, 2021 15:12
Ruperts Trooper wrote: Sun Nov 28, 2021 14:59
Bryn666 wrote: Wed Sep 29, 2021 20:11

Yep, so they've left them in situ. This is why stadium signs should say the name of the team and not sponsors...
Especially as away supporters may not know the latest name for the ground but will know the team they're playing.
What do you do with shared stadia?

Brentford/London Irish stadium?
Wasps/Coventry City?
Spectators will know which sport is being played!
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Re: Who pays for sign changes when stadiums/arenas change their name?

Post by the cheesecake man »

Big L wrote: Sun Nov 28, 2021 15:12 What do you do with shared stadia?

Brentford/London Irish stadium?
Wasps/Coventry City?
Rotating prism :coat:
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Re: Who pays for sign changes when stadiums/arenas change their name?

Post by Bryn666 »

Ruperts Trooper wrote: Sun Nov 28, 2021 16:17
Big L wrote: Sun Nov 28, 2021 15:12
Ruperts Trooper wrote: Sun Nov 28, 2021 14:59
Especially as away supporters may not know the latest name for the ground but will know the team they're playing.
What do you do with shared stadia?

Brentford/London Irish stadium?
Wasps/Coventry City?
Spectators will know which sport is being played!
"For [team name] events follow Stadium"

Of course there is also the argument that nearly all people travelling to a stadium know where they are going to begin and those who do not will likely have either planned their route or be on a coach so why do we need millions of brown signs for them... pedestrian wayfinding from railway stations is a different matter.
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Re: Who pays for sign changes when stadiums/arenas change their name?

Post by Chris Bertram »

This is probably the best solution, if it weren't for the "impossible" football used as the symbol:

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