Dubai’s Emirates in $5.3m deal to rebrand tower in Portsmouth, UK
Local petition against the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth being painted in the airline’s signature red
Emirates has struck a $5.3 million deal to rebrand the Spinnaker Tower in the UK city of Portsmouth – but some local residents have objected.
The Dubai airline will be the first-ever sponsor of the tower, one of the tallest outside London, which will be renamed the Emirates Spinnaker Tower from July.
Under a five-year agreement, the tower will also be repainted in the airline’s signature red.
“As the most prominent landmark in Portsmouth we are honoured to be the inaugural sponsor of Emirates Spinnaker Tower,” said Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, quoted by UAE state news agency WAM.
“This sponsorship represents our vested interest in the UK where we currently operate 16 daily flights and where we are responsible for injecting and stimulating over 2.1 billion pound into the country’s GDP each year. Part of the reason that this sponsorship opportunity was so appealing to us is that it will enable the local City Council to reinvest this partnership money into the local community, something that we are proud to be able to support.”
But some local residents have objected to the plan, with about 5,000 people reportedly signing a petition in objection.
According to press reports, some supporters of Portsmouth Football Club – which plays in blue – have objected to the tower being repainted red, the shirt colour of rival team Southampton.