Bellerive Oval will no longer be known as Blundstone Arena as brand signals end of partnership
The state’s premier sporting venue will take on a new name after a beloved local company announced it would be ending its partnership with Cricket Tasmania.
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Bellerive Oval will no longer be known as Blundstone Arena, with the iconic Tasmanian brand announcing the end of its naming rights sponsorship of the venue after 13 years.
The Mercury can exclusively reveal that Blundstone Australia will not seek to renew its contract with Cricket Tasmania beyond the expiry date of October 1.
Another “well-known” local business is understood to be taking over as the new sponsor this cricket season and is expected to be announced in the coming months.
Bellerive Oval became the first Australian international cricket ground to offer the naming rights for its venue in 2011 when it was rebranded as Blundstone Arena.
The deal between the footwear brand and Cricket Tasmania was extended for a further five years in 2016, and for an additional three years in 2021.
Cricket Tasmania CEO Dominic Baker commended Blundstone’s “commitment” to the sport and said he was “excited for what comes next in the naming rights partnership at Bellerive Oval”.
“Blundstone Arena has been synonymous with Tasmania and Tasmanian cricket, and there have been some tremendous memories at Blundstone, from 13 seasons’ worth of Hobart Hurricanes wins and Blundstone’s involvement since the W/BBL’s inception, Tasmanian Tigers trophies in the Sheffield Shield – and more recently in the Women’s National Cricket League – international cricket matches including the pinnacle of world cricket, the Ashes in 2021, which was shared to 240m televisions worldwide, and AFL content,” he said.
“Sport can bring a state or nation together, and Blundstone Arena provided countless Tasmanians with the opportunity to support their local, state and national teams.”
Blundstone Australia joint CEO Adam Blake said the business was “very proud” of the partnership and “grateful to have supported our state’s love of cricket and sport and to have enabled thousands of young Tasmanians to further their skills”.
“It’s been a really positive partnership with Cricket Tasmania. We have always believed businesses should be active contributors to their community and we are proud that our inaugural arena sponsorship has contributed to establishing a foundation for cricket and sporting events more broadly in Tasmania, for now and for future generations,” he said.
“We are pleased to be handing the bat to another locally based business to take up the opportunity to support our community through the arena naming rights sponsorship.”
Blundstone was founded in Hobart in 1870 by English-born bootmaker John Blundstone.
It has become a globally recognised brand and was this year named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies.
The Mercury understands that home building company Wilson Homes, which already has a partnership with Cricket Tasmania, is a possible candidate to replace Blundstone as the naming rights sponsor of Bellerive Oval.
A Wilson Homes spokesman said there was “nothing to report on or confirm at this stage”.
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Originally published as Bellerive Oval will no longer be known as Blundstone Arena as brand signals end of partnership
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