The FAI and Telecom Eireann today announced the biggest sports sponsorship deal ever undertaken in this country. At a cost of £18m, Telecom have secured the naming rights to the FAI's new stadium, sponsorship for all Republic of Ireland teams and sponsorship of the FAI national league.
The new stadium to be known as Eircom Park, has according to the FAI already secured funding of £48.5m and the planning application is almost complete. Chief Executive of the FAI, Bernard O'Byrne confirmed however that the FAI will seek government funding of up to £20m. He said that the Government have a moral obligation to support the project having given similar funding in the past to the GAA. When Eircom Park is completed the FAI will be one of the few associations in Europe to own it's own stadium.
