Manchester United shirt sponsor are interested in Old Trafford naming right deal

Snapdragon, the company that sponsors Manchester United "front of shirt" are interested in a deal to rename old Trafford should the club need investors to build a brand new stadium.

Don McGuire, the chief marketing officer of Qualcomm, which owns Snapdragon, said the firm is “always looking out for opportunities” to raise brand awareness.

 

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Manchester United are looking at building a new stadium from scratch and are hoping that one of the many ways they can raise funds is the naming rights. Recall, the estimated budget to rebuild the stadium has been pegged to around £2billion which is far beyond the reach of the club imminently.

McGuire continues the potential business collaboration not just about a new stadium but also refurbishing Carrington to a world class level by saying; “Old Trafford is Old Trafford, it should always be Old Trafford. But if there is a brand attached to that in some way shape or form, powered by someone, an ‘at’ or whatever — this is Snapdragon Stadium at Bashor Field — we are working very closely with the team on the reimagining of Old Trafford from a technology and innovation standpoint, and Carrington (the club’s training ground). So if that leads to something bigger, where it would make sense for us to go even bigger — this (shirt sponsor) is pretty big by the way, not inexpensive — but if it makes sense, we are always looking out for opportunities.”

 

Snapdragon makes the chips or processors found in an estimated three billion devices globally, across smartphones, PCs, virtual reality, gaming and cars, even including high-tech sunglasses. McGuire said the American company’s expertise is being tapped into by United for the £50m refurbishment of Carrington, which began this summer, and the future work at Old Trafford.

McGuire sighted more instances on potential technologies that will be used: “Fan experiences, connectivity, stadium operations like retail, point of sale, ticket in and out. Then there is how fans can be engaged while in the stadium, whether through augmented reality or through their smartphones or devices. And then making United a more state-of-the-art club.”

 

United executives, including Sir Dave Brailsford, Omar Berrada, Collette Roche, Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox, met Snapdragon officials at the company’s headquarters in San Diego during the club’s United States summer tour to discuss ideas.

Any name suggestions? We'll go first;

• Snapdragon Stadium of MUFC.

• Snapdragon Old Trafford stadium.

• Old Trafford Snapdragon stadium.