(Friday 25 January 2019) The heart of the North East is alive with power as Newcastle Arena welcomes rising energy brand Utilita Energy as our naming rights partner – providing an electric start to an already exciting 2019.
Today sees the beginning of a four-year partnership, illuminating the North East skyline as Utilita Energy shines bright over the arena.
Our 11,000-capacity arena hosting world class entertainment will now be known as UTILITA ARENA – the first of many exciting partnerships to be announced for the SMG venue.
Utilita Energy already supports sporting venues – powering iconic stadia such as Rangers’ Ibrox, Aston Villa’s Villa Park and Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park – and is now growing its presence in the entertainment industry. It says its new partnership here in the North East is a “key driver’ in growing its customer rewards programme, Utilita Extra.
The name of the award-winning energy supplier will become synonymous with the hundreds of thousands of fans who attend concerts and live events at the arena – in 2019 we welcome the likes of Boyzone, George Ezra, Olly Murs, WWE, Westlife, Rod Stewart, Russell Howard, Little Mix and Kiss, to name but a few.
We look forward to welcoming you to Utilita Arena and would like to assure all current ticket holders your tickets will remain valid for your next show with us. Our social media handles @ArenaNewcastle and contact phone numbers will remain the same with our website address now becoming www.utilitaarena.co.uk
Nic Rhodes, Head of Brand Marketing, Utilita Energy, said: “We know just how important this venue is to the North East, so to have our name above the door is an absolute honour.
As Utilita continues to grow, our ‘Utilita Extra’ customer rewards programme becomes increasingly important to us – and the Utilita Arena will play a major role in this. The venue has a brilliant reputation across the UK so we are absolutely delighted be on board!”
Bauer Media’s Metro Radio will remain vital to the venue’s promotion and will continue as the official Media Partner to Utilita Arena, highlighting the very best of live music events and continuing to bring all the biggest hits to the region.
Ailsa Oliver General Manager for Utilita Arena said “We are thrilled to begin this new phase in the Arena’s timeline. With successful partnership expansion and business progression this is a fantastic advancement for the North East. I look forward to an extremely dynamic relationship with Utilita Energy and our continued exciting work with Bauer Group Media Metro Radio going from strength to strength”
John Sharkey Executive Vice President, European Operations “I’m delighted by the appointment of Utilita Energy as our naming rights partner. We’re impressed with their fresh approach to the energy market and we look forward to welcoming Utilita Energy to the venue.”
Dominic Munnelly Metro Radio Station Director added “As a station we have been fortunate enough to have benefitted from a 15 year sponsorship agreement with the Metro Radio Arena. The partnership we have enjoyed has been one of the longest standing naming right’s contracts in the country and we hope Utilita Energy enjoy the same success with this exciting new venture.
In the fast evolving digital landscape we operate in, we now have different priorities in terms of how we promote the station.
I am, however, delighted to announce that we will be continuing our strong association with the Arena as their Official Media Partner. This revised deal will ensure we maintain a close association with the venue and our listeners can continue to rely on us to keep them informed of all the biggest and best gigs and shows coming to the region.”
Plug into live entertainment at the Utilita Arena powering a new music energy in the North East.