New deal ushers in renovations, innovations for Orlando Amstel Arena

The Dutch brewery, which first entered into a partnership with Orlando Pirates last year, has now secured the naming rights for the club's home stadium. 

The last time the venue had a naming rights sponsor was with French cement company Lafarge, and Grobbelaar offered insight to what the new deal entails in terms of revenue.

"First of all, the most important thing is that we now generate revenue from this commercial deal – revenue that allows you to do more upgrades and be innovative as far as spectator experience at the stadium is concerned," explained Grobbelaar.

"Just here at Orlando Staduim, you know the issues we've had with the chairs, it's a totally different picture where on the northern side, there are 11 additional suites.

"Us being in a position to do all of that is from the revenue generated from this deal, and that's why today is so significant for me, representing Stadium Management South Africa – I don't know a current commercial deal in this format, so ja, maybe it will change the landscape a bit."

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For Amstel, this is also about preserving history as Marketing Director at Heineken Beverages, Andrea Quaye, explains why they will be keeping 'Orlando' in the name.

"Well, you know when we last met, I spoke to you about wanting to enhance the fan experience and the fact that as Amstel we want to contribute to the football culture here in South Africa," she noted.

"And how best to do that than to sponsor or rename and enhance the experience in South Africa's most iconic football stadium.

"So yeah, the idea came up and we wanted to do something with the naming and we absolutely wanted to keep the name 'Orlando' because we understand the heritage and the iconicity, and we wanted to give it a bit of pazazz, so it's Orlando Amstel Arena."