Man United sponsor Snapdragon interested in Old Trafford naming rights deal

Snapdragon, the company that sponsors Manchester United’s front of shirt, is interested in securing naming rights for Old Trafford should the club use that route to help fund a new stadium, Report informs via the Athletic.

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

United are focusing on a new Old Trafford on the same site as the current ground, but with the cost estimated to be at least £2 billion ($2.6 billion), several options for raising finance are on the table. One of those is naming rights and Snapdragon, which sealed a three-year shirt sponsorship worth $225million in July, would like to expand its association with United.

“Old Trafford is Old Trafford, it should always be Old Trafford,” said McGuire, standing in a suite at Snapdragon Stadium, home to San Diego State University’s American football team, where United faced Real Betis.

“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.