Hampden renamed due to 'multi-million pound' partnership for Scottish football

The SFA announced on Monday morning that the national stadium would be renamed as part of the long-term agreement, with Barclays becoming title partner of the Barclays Next Gen Girls’ Performance Programme and official partner of both the men’s and women’s Scottish Gas Scottish Cup competitions.

The deal means that both Scotland’s national stadiums for football and rugby have sponsorship deals in their titles - Barclays Hampden and Scottish Gas Murrayfield - while a number of Scottish Professional Football League clubs have teamed up with commercial partners recently and renamed their grounds.

However, this is the first time that Hampden has been rebranded for sponsorship reasons and SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell said: “We’re excited to have Barclays on board as naming partner of Barclays Hampden.

“In the course of the conversations we’ve had over the past few months, to get to this point, their desire to support Scottish football – across the levels – has been clear. It’s a commitment that will continue with Barclays Next Gen, the girls’ performance programme, and both the Men’s and Women’s Scottish Gas Scottish Cup competitions.

“The impact of their investment will be felt within the walls of Barclays Hampden and far beyond – not least helping fuel the kind of programmes we run that harness the Power of Football and make an everyday impact in Scottish society. We’re looking forward to developing the partnership in the weeks, months and years to come.”

Commercial director of Scottish Football Marketing Brendan Napier hailed the move and said Barclays are the “right partner” for Hampden.

“It’s with real pride that today we unveil Barclays as the first naming partner of our national stadium – Barclays Hampden,” said Napier. “Our home is revered all over the world as the setting for some truly iconic moments – across sport and entertainment.

“Not least the heroics of our Scotland Men’s National Team, who last month secured qualification for the FIFA World Cup with three of the most outstanding goals you are ever likely to see.

“Moments matter. You only had to look at the faces of the capacity crowd on the night to see that, and we look forward to sharing many more together at Barclays Hampden.

‘We have found the right partner’

“We recognise that, as a treasured national asset, the National Stadium deserved the right partner, and in Barclays we know we have found just that. A world-renowned institution – committed to Scotland and Scottish football, at all levels.

“We’re equally thrilled with Barclays’ passion for supporting the Barclays Next Gen Girls’ Performance Programme – which will help develop some of Scotland’s brightest young talents – in addition to their new status as Official Partners of both the Men’s and Women’s Scottish Gas Scottish Cup competitions.

“From the first conversation, we could not have been more excited about partnering with the team at Barclays. We look forward, with optimism, to many happy years working together.”

Tom Corbett, managing director of Sponsorship and Client Experience at Barclays, added: “We are thrilled to be ending the year with the addition of the Scottish home of football to our partnership portfolio.

“Hampden is a fantastic venue in a fantastic city, and this new partnership will enable us to further support the next generation of football fans and players.”