[GocartMozart]

shocking


Rivals - News - NewsArticle - Manchester United News Article

Coke Put Fizz Into Old Trafford With Huge New Sponsorship Deal

United are set to announce a £300m sponsorship deal with Coca-Cola that will double their current income from AIG but will controversially see the club's ground re-branded as ''The Coca-Cola Stadium at Old Trafford.''


Coca-Cola are ready to buy out United's existing contract with AIG which still has two years left to run, for what they describe as a "unique opportunity" to be associated with United and their stadium.

The Glazer family are believed to have been in secret negotiations with the Atlanta-based beverage giant for the past six months and have also courted rival bids from McDonalds, Microsoft and furniture giant, DFS.

However, it is understood that Coca-Cola are willing to pay £100m up front with the rest of the deal being spread evenly over the next four years, which will automatically clear the Glazers' interest payments for this year and put them into credit for the financial year which ends in April 2010.

The famous Coca-Cola logo will be emblazoned on United's red shirts from the start of next season while other kits will reflect Coca-Cola products. It is understood that a black away strip will feature the logo of "Coke Zero" and a zip will be inserted on the collar which resembles the ring pull on a can of the refreshing fizzy drink which has all the great taste of Coke but no sugar.

Big clubs like Arsenal, Bolton Wanderers and York City have already sold the naming rights to their stadiums and United are now ready to follow suit.

Stands at Old Trafford are to be renamed to represent the new sponsor with the East Stand to be renamed "The Asa Candler stand" after the company's founder, the South Stand now known as "The Cherry Coke Stand", the North Stand as the "The Diet Coke Stand" and the Stretford End as "The Tab Clear Stand".

The deal means that Coke will have exclusive rights to catering at Old Trafford and it is understood that only Coca-Cola products will be sold at the concourse from now on, meaning there's no beer, only fizzy drinks which rot your teeth and don't get you drunk.

Fans groups have welcomed the move and an IMUSA spokesman said:

"We were getting a bit bored of the name 'Old Trafford' anyway. What's so good about being old? At least the new deal clears some of the debt, which should mean more money for transfers and we're pretty sure that the Glazers will use this opportunity to lower ticket prices too. We expect to see Kaka and Ronaldinho at OT, sorry, I mean the Coca-Cola Stadium next year and we reckon we'll be getting in for 63p with enough change from a quid to get a chippy to eat on the bus home."