Auckland Stadiums, a division of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, confirms today multi-year partnerships with Go Media (Outdoor Advertising Solutions Co) and Auckland FC.
Go Media has extended its agreement with Auckland Stadiums to continue as the commercial naming rights partner of Mt Smart Stadium for at least four more years. The iconic venue will continue to be known as Go Media Stadium until 2028.
Auckland FC have partnered with Auckland Stadiums to play their home games at Go Media Stadium for their first five years of competition, while basing their training and administrative headquarters at North Harbour Stadium.
After initially agreeing a one-year deal in May 2023, Go Media and Auckland Stadiums were keen to explore a multi-year partnership. Under the terms of the new agreement, Go Media have committed to significant further investment into the venue including exploring opportunities to install a second large replay screen at Go Media Stadium to elevate the matchday experience further.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Stadiums Director James Parkinson is thrilled with the opportunity to continue working with Go Media.
“In Go Media we have found a partner who is committed to adding value to Auckland, to our venue and to our local communities.
This partnership and the length of the new multi-year agreement shows the commercial confidence in our venue from a 100% Kiwi-owned business in the private sector. Through partnerships like this we are able to reduce Auckland Stadiums’ reliance on rate payer funding, allowing us to give value back to the people of Auckland.”
Auckland FC (Auckland based professional football club) launched this year, returning professional football back to Tāmaki Makaurau. They will start their inaugural A-League season in October, with their first game at Go Media Stadium - the home of live entertainment in the region.
Go Media are a long-time supporter of sport across Auckland and have agreed their own partnership with Auckland FC to become their official outdoor media partner.
Parkinson can’t wait to welcome the new football franchise to Auckland.
“Go Media Stadium is an iconic Auckland venue that has proven its credentials as a mid-sized stadium with a great atmosphere time and again. The One NZ Warriors have been the cornerstone of our sporting content over the last thirty years with our rich sporting history also featuring All Blacks, Black Ferns, Kiwis, and All Whites international matches.
We are thrilled to welcome Auckland FC and look forward to football fans from all over New Zealand joining us at Go Media Stadium over the next five years. Auckland FC will write their own history into our sporting tapestry, and we look forward to being a part of the journey.”
Go Media Managing Director Mike Gray echoes the sentiment.
“We are absolutely thrilled to extend our naming rights agreement here at Go Media Stadium for an additional four years. Our operating model is to support all the communities we operate in through sponsorship, to help make them better places to live. Go Media Stadium allows us to invest directly back into our biggest market, Tāmaki Makaurau, to underpin that commitment which benefits all ratepayers.
We have a fantastic relationship with the major tenants at Go Media Stadium and are proud to be a sponsor of the Warriors Foundation and now the outdoor media partner of Auckland FC. We are committed to investing in the infrastructure at the stadium to enhance that fan experience even more – starting with a second replay screen. The One NZ Warriors games have an electric atmosphere, and we are looking forward to helping create the same feeling for the Black Knights.”
Auckland FC Chief Executive Officer Nick Becker is excited for AFC to play out of Go Media Stadium:
“Go Media Stadium is an iconic football stadium in New Zealand and we can’t wait to write our own stories here. It is going to provide a fantastic backdrop for our fan first match day experience, with a family fanzone and different zones that cater for every type of sports fan.
“We are building a team packed with young, exciting Kiwi talent who will play an attacking style of football for Auckland football fans to enjoy and we can’t wait to get started at Go Media in October”.
NOTES TO EDITOR
- Mt Smart Stadium’s main arena will continue to be known as Go Media Stadium until at-least May 2028. Go Media have first refusal on the right to extend beyond this deal.
- The name change does not affect the legal name of the site, Mt. Smart (Rarotonga).
Go Media
- Go Media has a national presence, is 100% Kiwi owned and 50% Māori-owned. The company has 26 billboards in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, reaching around 600,000 Aucklanders and visitors.
- With a strong presence in New Zealand’s largest cities and regional centres, Go Media has the widest out-of-home footprint in Aotearoa. It was the first New Zealand outdoor billboard company to embrace digital.
- Go Media is immersed in the communities it operates in. The team’s Good Impressions programme has been operating for ten years, working with partners to invest in good social outcomes for the community.
- Go Media is the partner for four Tāmaki Makaurau cultural festivals and also sponsors outdoor billboard space for super rugby, basketball, athletics, and many more.
Auckland FC
- Auckland FC is majority owned by Bill Foley, with Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray as local co-owners, and will play their home games at Go Media Stadium for their first five years.
- The 2024/25 season kicks off in October and Auckland FC inaugural season memberships are now on sale here.