The GIANTS home in Canberra, Manuka Oval, will become known as UNSW Canberra Oval for the next three years.
The naming rights agreement between the GIANTS and UNSW Canberra is the next stage of an existing partnership between the two organisations which began back in 2014.
The extension of the partnership coincides with UNSW Canberra celebrating their 50th year in the ACT.
The partnership was announced at UNSW Canberra Oval ahead of Friday night’s JLT Community Series match between the GIANTS and North Melbourne.
Tonight’s match is the first of five big games featuring the GIANTS in the ACT this year including an AFL Women’s match later this month as well as AFL Premiership fixtures in the coming months against Port Adelaide, reigning premier the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne.
As part of the agreement, UNSW Canberra will have naming rights to Manuka Oval for the duration of the AFL season including the JLT Community Series, the AFLW season and AFL Premiership season.
UNSW Canberra is one of four Universities that operate significant campuses in Canberra and has been proudly educating the future leaders of the Australian Defence Force in Canberra for half a century.
UNSW Canberra Rector, Professor Michael Frater said their 50th anniversary in the ACT was the perfect time to extend the partnership.
“UNSW Canberra is committed to building vital relationships with our local community,” Pr. Frater said.
“We’ve been investing in Canberra for half a century, so our commitment to Canberra and this region is very clear. In fact, UNSW Canberra contributes more than $100 million to the ACT economy every year.
“Our renewed and expanded partnership with the GIANTS and the ACT Government is further evidence of our commitment.
“With UNSW Canberra’s naming rights of Manuka Oval, we are now playing an even more significant role in promoting sport and major events in Canberra, as well as bringing AFL to the local community through the GIANTS’ games.”
GIANTS Chief Executive David Matthews has welcomed the next stage of a strong partnership with one of the ACT’s leading institutions.
“We’re delighted to extend our partnership with UNSW Canberra to include the naming rights of Manuka Oval,” Mr Matthews said.
“Over the last six years we’ve grown into a key part of the sporting landscape in Canberra and the extension of this partnership with UNSW Canberra will further strengthen our ties with the local community.
“Our players love playing here at UNSW Canberra Oval and we’ve had fantastic support from the local community in recent years.
“With a host of big games to come at UNSW Canberra Oval this year, 2017 is shaping as another big year for the GIANTS in the ACT.
“With a ball yet to be bounced this season, we’ve already passed our 2016 membership tally in the ACT and urge all Canberra sports fans to get behind the GIANTS.”
ACT Chief Minister said the partnership will help the region.
“It’s fantastic to see UNSW Canberra coming on board to support the GIANTS in Canberra,” Chief Minister Barr said.
“Canberra has a great reputation of being the knowledge capital of Australia, and this is a welcome sign that UNSW Canberra want to have a bigger presence in this city.”
The partnership includes naming rights to the GIANTS Fan Day in Canberra which this year will be held on Saturday, April 29 following the Friday night match against the Western Bulldogs.
More about UNSW Canberra:
With more than 15,000 alumni, UNSW Canberra graduates continue to shape Australia, the region and the international community as leaders in defence, government and industry.
UNSW is one of Australia’s “Group of Eight” research intensive universities. As a campus of UNSW, UNSW Canberra is extremely research active and very much a part of Canberra’s higher education landscape.
While many people think of ADFA and UNSW Canberra as an undergraduate facility, UNSW Canberra now graduates nearly twice as many postgraduate students as undergraduate students.
